Lung cancer is one of the most common cancers worldwide and a leading cause of cancer death in men and women in the United States. There are many different types of lung cancer. Each type grows and spreads in different ways and requires different types of treatment.
Cigarette smoking causes most types of lung cancer. The more cigarettes you smoke each 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 a person’s risk.
Common lung cancer symptoms include a persistent cough that gets worse over time. Constant chest pain, coughing up blood, wheezing, shortness of breath or hoarseness, swelling of the face and neck, repeated pneumonia or bronchitis, fatigue, loss of appetite or weight loss.
Treatment depends on the stage (how advanced the cancer is) and may include chemotherapy, radiation and surgery.