Also called: Bronchogenic carcinoma
Lung cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world. It is a leading cause of cancer death in men and women in the United States. Cigarette smoking causes most lung cancers. The more cigarettes you smoke per day and the earlier you started smoking, the greater your risk of lung cancer. High levels of pollution, radiation and asbestos exposure may also increase risk.
Common symptoms of lung cancer include
A cough that doesn't go away and gets worse over time
Constant chest pain
Coughing up blood
Shortness of breath, wheezing, or hoarseness
Repeated problems with pneumonia or bronchitis
Swelling of the neck and face
Loss of appetite or weight loss
Fatigue
There are many types of lung cancer. Each type of lung cancer grows and spreads in different ways and is treated differently. Treatment also depends on the stage, or how advanced it is. Treatment may include chemotherapy, radiation and surgery.
National Cancer Institute
Start Here
Lung Cancer(Patient Education Institute)
Also available in Spanish
What You Need to Know about Lung Cancer(National Cancer Institute)
Basics
Learn More
Multimedia & Cool Tools
Overviews
Latest News
Diagnosis/Symptoms
Treatment
Prevention/Screening
Disease Management
Specific Conditions
Related Issues
Health Check Tools
Tutorials
Videos
Research
Reference Shelf
For You
Anatomy/Physiology
Clinical Trials
Genetics
Research
Journal Articles
Dictionaries/Glossaries
Directories
Organizations
Statistics
Children
Overviews
JAMA Patient Page: Lung Cancer(American Medical Association)
Also available in Spanish
Lung Cancer(National Cancer Institute)
Lung Cancer(American Society of Clinical Oncology)
Also available in Spanish
Lung Cancer(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
Latest News
Optimal Treatment Boosts Blacks' Lung Cancer Survival(01/19/2009, HealthDay)
Gene Mutation Tied to Inherited Fatal Lung Disease(12/30/2008, HealthDay)
Gene Variant Tied to Smokers' Risk of Lung Cancer(12/22/2008, HealthDay)
Annual Report to the Nation Finds Declines in Cancer Incidence and Death Rates; Special Feature Reveals Wide Variations in Lung Cancer Trends across States(11/25/2008, National Cancer Institute)
More News on Lung Cancer
Diagnosis/Symptoms
Chest X Ray(National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)
Fiberoptic Bronchoscopy(American Thoracic Society)
How Is Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Diagnosed?(American Cancer Society)
How Is Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Staged?(American Cancer Society)
How Is Small Cell Lung Cancer Diagnosed?(American Cancer Society)
How Is Small Cell Lung Cancer Staged?(American Cancer Society)
Lung CT Scan for Cancer: Should You Be Screened?(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
Mediastinoscopy(Harvard Medical School)
Needle Biopsy(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
Needle Biopsy of Lung (Chest) Nodules(American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America)
Thoracentesis(American Thoracic Society) - Links to PDF
Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery (VATS)(Harvard Medical School)
What If I Have a Spot on My Lung? Do I Have Cancer?(American College of Chest Physicians) - Large PDF file
Treatment
Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (PDQ): Treatment(National Cancer Institute)
Also available in Spanish
Radiation Therapy for Lung Cancer(American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology)
Radiofrequency Ablation of Lung Tumors(American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America)
Also available in Spanish
Small Cell Lung Cancer (PDQ): Treatment(National Cancer Institute)
Also available in Spanish
Treatment Choices by Stage for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer(American Cancer Society)
Treatment Choices by Stage for Small Cell Lung Cancer(American Cancer Society)
Treatment of Advanced Unresectable, Metastatic, and Recurrent Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer(UpToDate) Return to top
Prevention/Screening
Lung Cancer (PDQ): Prevention(National Cancer Institute)
Lung Cancer (PDQ): Screening(National Cancer Institute)
Spiral CT Scans for Lung Cancer Screening(National Cancer Institute)
What Are the Risk Factors for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer?(American Cancer Society)
What Are the Risk Factors for Small Cell Lung Cancer?(American Cancer Society) Return to top
Disease Management
What Happens After Treatment for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer?(American Cancer Society)
What Happens After Treatment for Small Cell Lung Cancer?(American Cancer Society) Return to top
Specific Conditions
What Is Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer?(American Cancer Society)
What Is Small Cell Lung Cancer?(American Cancer Society) Return to top
Related Issues
Advanced Lung Cancer: Issues to Consider(American College of Chest Physicians) - Links to PDF
Cigarette Smoking and Cancer: Questions and Answers(National Cancer Institute)
Also available in Spanish
Living with Lung Cancer(American College of Chest Physicians) - Links to PDF
Questions to Ask Your Medical Team(Lung Cancer Alliance) Return to top
Health Check Tools
Lung Cancer Risk Questionnaire(Siteman Cancer Center)
Also available in Spanish
Lung Cancer Risk: Understanding the Puzzle(National Cancer Institute) Return to top
Tutorials
Lung Cancer(National Cancer Institute)
Lung Cancer(Patient Education Institute)
Also available in SpanishReturn to top
Videos
If I Had - A Nodule Noted in a Chest X-Ray(Insidermedicine)
Minimally Invasive Lobectomy for Lung Cancer(OR-Live) - One hour program - 11/29/2007
Video Assisted Thoracic Surgery (VATS) Lobectomy and Lymphadenectomy for Lung Cancer(OR-Live) - One hour program - 5/22/2008 Return to top
Anatomy/Physiology
Atlas of the Body: The Respiratory System -- Basic Function(American Medical Association)
How the Lungs Work(National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) Return to top
Clinical Trials
ClinicalTrials.gov: Carcinoma, Bronchogenic(National Institutes of Health)
ClinicalTrials.gov: Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung(National Institutes of Health)
ClinicalTrials.gov: Carcinoma, Small Cell(National Institutes of Health)
ClinicalTrials.gov: Lung Neoplasms(National Institutes of Health)
National Lung Screening Trial: Questions and Answers(National Cancer Institute) Return to top
Genetics
Do We Know What Causes Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer?(American Cancer Society)
Do We Know What Causes Small Cell Lung Cancer?(American Cancer Society) Return to top
Research
Cetuximab Plus Chemotherapy Extends Survival for Advanced Lung Cancer(National Cancer Institute)
Lung Cancer Patients: Post-Surgery Exercise Beneficial(American Cancer Society)
Meta-Analysis Suggests Cisplatin Superior to Carboplatin for Advanced NSCLC(National Cancer Institute)
No Survival Benefit from Adjuvant Chemo in Stage 1B NSCLC(National Cancer Institute)
Promising New Tool to Monitor Lung Cancer Treatment Progress(American Cancer Society)
Researchers Identify Genetic Predictor of Lung Cancer Risk(American Cancer Society)
Surgery Does Not Improve Survival for Advanced Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) Patients(National Cancer Institute)
What's New in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Research and Treatment?(American Cancer Society)
What's New in Small Cell Lung Cancer Research and Treatment?(American Cancer Society) Return to top
Journal Articles
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
Article: Neuroendocrine carcinomas of the lung: a critical analysis.
Article: Quantitative analysis of DNA methylation profiles in lung cancer identifies...
Article: Haishengsu as an adjunct therapy to conventional chemotherapy in patients...
Lung Cancer -- see more articles Return to top
Dictionaries/Glossaries
Dictionary of Cancer Terms(National Cancer Institute)
Lung Cancer Glossary(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Return to top
Directories
Find an Oncologist(American Society of Clinical Oncology)
National Cancer Institute Cancer Centers Program(National Cancer Institute)
Also available in SpanishReturn to top
Organizations
American Cancer Society
American Lung Association
National Cancer Institute Return to top
Statistics
Cancer of the Lung and Bronchus(National Cancer Institute)
Lung Cancer Statistics(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
What Are the Key Statistics about Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer?(American Cancer Society)
What Are the Key Statistics for Small Cell Lung Cancer?(American Cancer Society) Return to top
Children
Pleuropulmonary Blastoma - Childhood(American Society of Clinical Oncology) Return to top
Lung cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world. It is a leading cause of cancer death in men and women in the United States. Cigarette smoking causes most lung cancers. The more cigarettes you smoke per day and the earlier you started smoking, the greater your risk of lung cancer. High levels of pollution, radiation and asbestos exposure may also increase risk.
Common symptoms of lung cancer include
A cough that doesn't go away and gets worse over time
Constant chest pain
Coughing up blood
Shortness of breath, wheezing, or hoarseness
Repeated problems with pneumonia or bronchitis
Swelling of the neck and face
Loss of appetite or weight loss
Fatigue
There are many types of lung cancer. Each type of lung cancer grows and spreads in different ways and is treated differently. Treatment also depends on the stage, or how advanced it is. Treatment may include chemotherapy, radiation and surgery.
National Cancer Institute
Start Here
Lung Cancer(Patient Education Institute)
Also available in Spanish
What You Need to Know about Lung Cancer(National Cancer Institute)
Basics
Learn More
Multimedia & Cool Tools
Overviews
Latest News
Diagnosis/Symptoms
Treatment
Prevention/Screening
Disease Management
Specific Conditions
Related Issues
Health Check Tools
Tutorials
Videos
Research
Reference Shelf
For You
Anatomy/Physiology
Clinical Trials
Genetics
Research
Journal Articles
Dictionaries/Glossaries
Directories
Organizations
Statistics
Children
Overviews
JAMA Patient Page: Lung Cancer(American Medical Association)
Also available in Spanish
Lung Cancer(National Cancer Institute)
Lung Cancer(American Society of Clinical Oncology)
Also available in Spanish
Lung Cancer(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
Latest News
Optimal Treatment Boosts Blacks' Lung Cancer Survival(01/19/2009, HealthDay)
Gene Mutation Tied to Inherited Fatal Lung Disease(12/30/2008, HealthDay)
Gene Variant Tied to Smokers' Risk of Lung Cancer(12/22/2008, HealthDay)
Annual Report to the Nation Finds Declines in Cancer Incidence and Death Rates; Special Feature Reveals Wide Variations in Lung Cancer Trends across States(11/25/2008, National Cancer Institute)
More News on Lung Cancer
Diagnosis/Symptoms
Chest X Ray(National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)
Fiberoptic Bronchoscopy(American Thoracic Society)
How Is Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Diagnosed?(American Cancer Society)
How Is Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Staged?(American Cancer Society)
How Is Small Cell Lung Cancer Diagnosed?(American Cancer Society)
How Is Small Cell Lung Cancer Staged?(American Cancer Society)
Lung CT Scan for Cancer: Should You Be Screened?(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
Mediastinoscopy(Harvard Medical School)
Needle Biopsy(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
Needle Biopsy of Lung (Chest) Nodules(American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America)
Thoracentesis(American Thoracic Society) - Links to PDF
Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery (VATS)(Harvard Medical School)
What If I Have a Spot on My Lung? Do I Have Cancer?(American College of Chest Physicians) - Large PDF file
Treatment
Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (PDQ): Treatment(National Cancer Institute)
Also available in Spanish
Radiation Therapy for Lung Cancer(American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology)
Radiofrequency Ablation of Lung Tumors(American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America)
Also available in Spanish
Small Cell Lung Cancer (PDQ): Treatment(National Cancer Institute)
Also available in Spanish
Treatment Choices by Stage for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer(American Cancer Society)
Treatment Choices by Stage for Small Cell Lung Cancer(American Cancer Society)
Treatment of Advanced Unresectable, Metastatic, and Recurrent Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer(UpToDate) Return to top
Prevention/Screening
Lung Cancer (PDQ): Prevention(National Cancer Institute)
Lung Cancer (PDQ): Screening(National Cancer Institute)
Spiral CT Scans for Lung Cancer Screening(National Cancer Institute)
What Are the Risk Factors for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer?(American Cancer Society)
What Are the Risk Factors for Small Cell Lung Cancer?(American Cancer Society) Return to top
Disease Management
What Happens After Treatment for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer?(American Cancer Society)
What Happens After Treatment for Small Cell Lung Cancer?(American Cancer Society) Return to top
Specific Conditions
What Is Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer?(American Cancer Society)
What Is Small Cell Lung Cancer?(American Cancer Society) Return to top
Related Issues
Advanced Lung Cancer: Issues to Consider(American College of Chest Physicians) - Links to PDF
Cigarette Smoking and Cancer: Questions and Answers(National Cancer Institute)
Also available in Spanish
Living with Lung Cancer(American College of Chest Physicians) - Links to PDF
Questions to Ask Your Medical Team(Lung Cancer Alliance) Return to top
Health Check Tools
Lung Cancer Risk Questionnaire(Siteman Cancer Center)
Also available in Spanish
Lung Cancer Risk: Understanding the Puzzle(National Cancer Institute) Return to top
Tutorials
Lung Cancer(National Cancer Institute)
Lung Cancer(Patient Education Institute)
Also available in SpanishReturn to top
Videos
If I Had - A Nodule Noted in a Chest X-Ray(Insidermedicine)
Minimally Invasive Lobectomy for Lung Cancer(OR-Live) - One hour program - 11/29/2007
Video Assisted Thoracic Surgery (VATS) Lobectomy and Lymphadenectomy for Lung Cancer(OR-Live) - One hour program - 5/22/2008 Return to top
Anatomy/Physiology
Atlas of the Body: The Respiratory System -- Basic Function(American Medical Association)
How the Lungs Work(National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) Return to top
Clinical Trials
ClinicalTrials.gov: Carcinoma, Bronchogenic(National Institutes of Health)
ClinicalTrials.gov: Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung(National Institutes of Health)
ClinicalTrials.gov: Carcinoma, Small Cell(National Institutes of Health)
ClinicalTrials.gov: Lung Neoplasms(National Institutes of Health)
National Lung Screening Trial: Questions and Answers(National Cancer Institute) Return to top
Genetics
Do We Know What Causes Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer?(American Cancer Society)
Do We Know What Causes Small Cell Lung Cancer?(American Cancer Society) Return to top
Research
Cetuximab Plus Chemotherapy Extends Survival for Advanced Lung Cancer(National Cancer Institute)
Lung Cancer Patients: Post-Surgery Exercise Beneficial(American Cancer Society)
Meta-Analysis Suggests Cisplatin Superior to Carboplatin for Advanced NSCLC(National Cancer Institute)
No Survival Benefit from Adjuvant Chemo in Stage 1B NSCLC(National Cancer Institute)
Promising New Tool to Monitor Lung Cancer Treatment Progress(American Cancer Society)
Researchers Identify Genetic Predictor of Lung Cancer Risk(American Cancer Society)
Surgery Does Not Improve Survival for Advanced Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) Patients(National Cancer Institute)
What's New in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Research and Treatment?(American Cancer Society)
What's New in Small Cell Lung Cancer Research and Treatment?(American Cancer Society) Return to top
Journal Articles
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
Article: Neuroendocrine carcinomas of the lung: a critical analysis.
Article: Quantitative analysis of DNA methylation profiles in lung cancer identifies...
Article: Haishengsu as an adjunct therapy to conventional chemotherapy in patients...
Lung Cancer -- see more articles Return to top
Dictionaries/Glossaries
Dictionary of Cancer Terms(National Cancer Institute)
Lung Cancer Glossary(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Return to top
Directories
Find an Oncologist(American Society of Clinical Oncology)
National Cancer Institute Cancer Centers Program(National Cancer Institute)
Also available in SpanishReturn to top
Organizations
American Cancer Society
American Lung Association
National Cancer Institute Return to top
Statistics
Cancer of the Lung and Bronchus(National Cancer Institute)
Lung Cancer Statistics(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
What Are the Key Statistics about Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer?(American Cancer Society)
What Are the Key Statistics for Small Cell Lung Cancer?(American Cancer Society) Return to top
Children
Pleuropulmonary Blastoma - Childhood(American Society of Clinical Oncology) Return to top
