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Lung Cancer

Definition

Lung cancer is an abnormal growth of cells in the lungs. It can spread to other parts of the body, most often to the liver, brain, bones, and other parts of the lungs, including the outer lining (called the pleura). Cancer from other parts of the body may also spread to the lungs, but this is not called lung cancer.

Lung cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer in the US and the leading cause of cancer deaths in both men and women.

There are two main types of lung cancer:

Getting Diagnosed / Treatment

Most of patients with lung cancer at the University of Michigan are treated in the Multidisciplinary Lung Cancer Clinic. Read about:

• the Multidisciplinary Lung Cancer Clinic
• the The Lung Cancer Team - on the UMHS website

Or, Make an Appointment

Research

Research on lung cancer is on-going through the Thoracic Oncology Program.

Causes of Lung Cancer

Most lung cancer is caused by smoking. Harmful substances in tobacco smoke damage the lung cells. Secondhand smoke is also a risk factor for lung cancer.

Besides smoking, exposure to harmful substances such as arsenic, asbestos, radioactive dust, or radon can increase the risk for lung cancer. If you have more than one of these risk factors—for example, you are a smoker and you are also exposed to asbestos -- you greatly increase your risk of developing lung cancer. Radiation exposure from work, medical, or environmental sources may also increase your risk for lung cancer.

The most effective way to prevent lung cancer is not to smoke. If you do smoke, you can reduce your risk for lung cancer by quitting now. Your risk will gradually decrease over 10 to 15 years as your lungs recover. The sooner you quit, the better.

Symptoms

Lung cancer may grow for a while without causing symptoms. Symptoms may include:

• a cough, coughing up blood, shortness of breath, wheezing, hoarseness
• chest pain
• repeated chest infections, asthma, fluid around the lung
• swelling in the neck or face
• tiredness, weakness, loss of weight.

If the cancer spreads to other parts of the body, the symptoms will depend on the area it affects.

Diagnostic Methods

Your doctor will check your symptoms and ask questions about whether you smoke or have been exposed to another person's smoke or to any cancer-causing substances. He or she will also ask about your medical history, including any history of cancer in your family. This information will help your doctor decide how likely it is that you have lung cancer and whether further tests are needed.

Staging of Cancer The staging of cancer is a system used to measure how severe the disease is. Tumors get larger and spread to other parts of the body as cancer gets worse. There are three components to staging: Tumor size (T) Involvement of lymph nodes (N) Whether the tumor has spread (metastasized) from the original site to other parts of the body (M) This staging system is commonly referred to as the TNM cancer staging system.

Lung cancer is usually first found on a chest X-ray or a CT scan. More tests are done to diagnose non–small cell or small cell lung cancer and to find out whether what you have is confined to your lung or has spread to other parts of your body. These tests help determine what stage the cancer is in.

How is it treated?

Treatment depends on the type, size, and stage of the cancer and your own general health. If you have a single tumor with little or no spread into nearby tissues, you will probably have surgery. Surgery is the single best way to cure lung cancer. A part of one lung or a whole lung may need to be removed.

In some cases, chemotherapy and radiation therapy may be recommended instead of surgery. Radiation therapy for the lungs is usually given if it is thought best not to perform surgery. Radiation is usually given at the same time as chemotherapy but, in some cases, radiation is given after chemotherapy. Sometimes radiation needs to be given to bones or to the brain. Chemotherapy alone is used if the cancer has spread to other parts of the body.

When lung cancer spreads to the pleura, it may cause fluid to build up in the chest and press on the lung. The fluid can then be removed with a needle, a process called a thoracentesis.

What are the chances of a cure?

About 1 of every 6 patients with lung cancer is cured.

How can I take care of myself?

Follow your health care provider's recommended treatment and keep all your follow-up appointments. To help take care of yourself during your treatment and recovery, follow these guidelines:

Call your health care provider if any symptoms recur. Your provider will tell you what new signs and symptoms to watch for and when to call or make an appointment.

What can be done to help prevent lung cancer?

Not all of the causes of lung cancer are known, but following these guidelines can help reduce the risk of some of the more common kinds of lung cancer:

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updated 9/2007

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University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center
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Ann Arbor, MI 48109

This site is part of the U-M Health System. The information presented is not a tool for self diagnosis or a substitute for professional care. © 2008 U-M Comprehensive Cancer Center