| an one in four of all diagnosed cancers involve the lung, | | | | We cannot advise you about the best treatment for |
| and lung cancer remains the most common | | | | you. You need to discuss this with your doctors. |
| cancer-related cause of death among American men | | | | However, we hope this information will answer some |
| and women. In 1998, more than 160,000 lung cancer | | | | of your questions and help you think about the |
| deaths were expected, outnumbering deaths from | | | | questions you want to ask your doctors. |
| breast, prostate and colon cancers combined. Today, | | | | There are two main types of lung cancer: |
| the rate of lung cancer is dropping among white men | | | | · Non—small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the |
| in the United States, but it continues to increase in | | | | most common type of lung cancer. It grows more |
| African-American men and in both white and | | | | slowly than small cell lung cancer. |
| African-American women. | | | | · Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) grows quickly and |
| At the same time, it may well be that a great many | | | | often spreads to distant parts of the body. |
| lung cancers are preventable. Inhaling cancer-causing | | | | Treatment |
| substances such as tobacco smoke may lead to | | | | As is true of many cancers, the treatment of lung |
| changes in the lung tissue shortly after exposure | | | | cancer depends upon a variety of factors. The most |
| so-called precancerous changes. Nevertheless, cancer | | | | important factors are the histopathologic (diseased |
| itself typically develops over a period of many years, | | | | tissue) type of tumor that is present and its stage. |
| and if detected at an early enough stage can be | | | | Advertising Disclaimer |
| eliminated by a variety of treatments. | | | | Once a lung cancer has been staged, the physician |
| History: Lung cancers manifest with symptoms | | | | and patient can discuss treatment options. An individual |
| produced by the primary tumor, locoregional spread, | | | | then has a better idea of the value of different forms |
| metastatic disease, or ectopic hormone production. | | | | of therapy. Other factors that are taken into account |
| See Image 1 for a summary of all signs and | | | | include the person's general health, medical problems |
| symptoms. Approximately 7-10% of patients with lung | | | | that may affect treatment (such as chemotherapy), |
| cancer are asymptomatic and their cancers are | | | | and tumor characteristics. |
| diagnosed incidentally after a chest radiograph (CXR) | | | | Lung Cancer Prevention & Screening |
| performed for other reasons. The symptoms | | | | Smoking & Tobacco Information |
| produced by the primary tumor depend on its location | | | | · Tobacco & Cancer Website |
| (ie, central, peripheral). | | | | · M. D. Anderson’s Tobacco Treatment |
| Understanding Lung Cancer | | | | Program |
| This information has been prepared to help you | | | | The best way to prevent lung cancer is to quit |
| understand more about lung cancer. Many people feel | | | | smoking, or to never start in the first place. You should |
| understandably shocked and upset when told they | | | | try and avoid being around people who are smoking; |
| have lung cancer. We hope this information will help | | | | and also avoid pipes, cigars, and marijuana. If you live in |
| you understand the diagnosis and treatment of the | | | | an area with radon, you should make sure there is |
| disease. We also include information about support | | | | adequate ventilation in your basement to get rid of it. |
| services. | | | | Use a detector to make sure the radon levels are low. |