This page was reviewed under ourmedical and editorial policyby
Maurie Markman, MD, President, Medicine & Science at CTCA.
This page was updated on May 6, 2022.
The lungs are two large organs that lie above the diaphragm and under the rib cage. When you breathe in, your lungs absorb oxygen and deliver it to the bloodstream, where it’s pumped throughout the body. When you exhale, the lungs remove carbon dioxide, a waste gas, from the bloodstream. Lung cancer interferes with this vital process and can make breathing more difficult.
The disease is the second most common non-skin cancer among men and women in the United States, afterprostate cancerin men andbreast cancerin women. A thorough and accuratecancer diagnosisis the first step in developing alung cancer treatment plan.
At Cancer Treatment Centers of America®(CTCA), we understand the uncertainty that comes with alung cancer diagnosis. Our oncologists andsupportive care cliniciansare committed to helping you understand the complexities of the disease and the array of treatment options available to you, so you can make informed decisions about your care.
Ourcancer expertsoffer a level of expertise that comes from working regularly with cancer patients—every stage, every day. The doctors tap that training and experience in designing a comprehensive care plan specific to your cancer, your stage and your individual needs. At CTCA®, we offer a wide range of lung cancer diagnostic tools and treatments, includingimmunotherapy,advanced genomic testingand other new options that may be available throughclinical trials.
This overview will cover the basic facts about lung cancer, including:
If you believe you may be experiencing symptoms of lung cancer and want to schedule an appointment for diagnostic testing, or if you’re interested in a second opinion for lung cancer at CTCA,call usorchat onlinewith a member of our team.
About one in 15 men and one in 17 women will get lung cancer, according to theAmerican Cancer Society (ACS). Lung cancer is the third most common cancer, afterskin cancer,prostate cancer(men) andbreast cancer(women).
Despite a decrease in cases due to less smoking, lung cancer remains the most common cause of death from cancer in both men and women. Smoking is most often the cause.
Lung cancer typically develops in people older than 65. The average age of diagnosis for lung cancer is 70, with men at slightly higher risk than women.
Radon, a radioactive gas that leaks from soil and rock, is the second leading cause of lung cancer. It may be the leading cause for patients who never smoked tobacco. Radon is most dangerous in basements where it’s concentrated, not out in open air.
Other much-less common risk factors for lung cancer include:
"Just walking into the center, I got such a positive first impression. I got a sense of hope as soon as I walked through the doors. I felt nervous excitement radiate through me. And later on, when I talked to other patients, they experienced the same feeling and sensation. Everybody's friendly, they greet you warmly, and you just feel secure. I felt like I was in the right place for me. I just had this feeling that good things were going to happen.
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Most people with lung cancer don’t have early signs or symptoms. However, when symptoms develop, they are most likely to include:
Lung cancer patients may experience chest pain that worsens with deep breathing or coughing, and have frequent lung infections such as bronchitis or pneumonia.
When lung cancer spreads to other areas of the body, a process referred to asmetastasis, symptoms may include bone pain, headache, weakness, numbness, jaundice or enlarged lymph nodes.
The diagnostic process may begin with or without symptoms.
A lung cancer screening, which is testing before the appearance of symptoms, involves alow-dose computed tomography (CT) scan. Thistype of imaging study建议只对高危人群陆吗ng cancer.
According to theAmerican Lung Association, you may be screened if:
Diagnosing lung cancer typically starts with a history and physical exam. The next step may be an imaging study—such as achest X-ray,CT scanorPET (positron emission tomography) scan—to search for cancer in your lungs. Some patients may undergo a bone scan, an imaging study of the bones, to determine whether cancer has spread there.
Doctors use abiopsyto identify cancer cells, removing a piece of lung tissue or cells to study under a microscope. Common methods to obtain these samples include:
Before starting treatment, your care team needs to identify thestage of your lung cancer. Staging tells your care team the extent of your cancer and helps decide the appropriate treatment.
The两种主要类型的肺癌arenon-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)andsmall cell lung cancer (SCLC). Knowing the type is important for staging and treatment.
To stage cancer, doctors use what’s called the TNM system. TNM stands for Tumor Node Metastasis, which are important factors in determining the severity of the cancer.
Depending on the TNM findings, lung cancer may be diagnosed from stage 0 to stage 4. The higher the stage, the more advanced the cancer.
For SCLC, doctors sometimes use a simplified system with just two stages. These two stages are limited and extensive.
As you learn more about your cancer and the available treatments, you’ll share in the decision-making process with your care team.
Treatments for NSCLC vary by stage and may include:
For limited-stage SCLC, treatment may include:
For extensive-stage SCLC, primary treatments include:
Patients with either limited- or extensive-stage disease may benefit from clinical trials for new treatments.
Each cancer and each person is different. To determine a cancer prognosis, researchers calculate how many people with the same type of cancer and stage of cancer are alive five years after diagnosis (aka the five-year survival rate).
According to theACS:
Keep in mind that these rates are based on past years of statistics and may not reflect advances in treatment or new treatments that may be available in clinical trials.
No one treatment is one-size-fits-all. You need to work with your care team to find the right option for you.
Below are tips to help you prepare for your treatment conversation:
Learn more about the questions to ask about lung cancer treatment
在肺癌中心每个CTCA居屋计划pitals, located across the nation, our singular focus enables our oncologists to stay up to date on new and emerging treatments and technologies, allowing us to help you make informed decisions about the options available to treat not just the disease but the side effects that may result. Clinical trials inimmunotherapy,cryotherapyand other areas of innovation may be among the options available. Having a team of lung cancer experts collaborating daily, all under one roof, allows us to assemble a detailed treatment plan more quickly and more efficiently.
Each patient’s Lung Cancer Center care team is led by a medical oncologist and coordinated by a care manager devoted to the many details needed to help patients achieve their treatment goals and maintain their quality of life. Our lung cancer pathologists also play a key role in diagnosing and staging the disease, to better pinpoint the treatment options available.
Depending on your lung cancer type, stage and recommended treatment plan, your care team may includesurgicaland/orradiation oncologists,interventional pulmonologists, oncology nurses and a host of supportive care clinicians, all joining together to craft a personalized care plan with a commitment to comprehensive care.
Lung cancer treatments may cause side effects such as dry mouth, difficulty swallowing and other challenges that may impact your quality of life. Our supportive care clinicians understand that treating the disease is only half the battle and that supporting your well-being is important to your recovery. They help you manage the side effects of cancer and its treatment. Supportive care therapies for lung cancer patients may include:
If you believe you may be experiencing symptoms of lung cancer and want to schedule an appointment for diagnostic testing, or if you’re interested in a second opinion for lung cancer at CTCA,call usorchat onlinewith a member of our team.