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 the risk.
Common symptoms of lung cancer include:
- A cough that doesn’t go away and gets worse over time
- Swelling of the neck and face
- Fatigue
- Shortness of breath, wheezing, or hoarseness
- Repeated problems with pneumonia or bronchitis
- Constant chest pain
- Loss of appetite or weight loss
- Coughing up blood
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 or all three of these treatments.