Lung cancer (both small cell and non-small cell) is the second most common cancer in both men (after prostate cancer) and women (after breast cancer). It accounts for about 15% of all new cancers.
The American Cancer Society's most recent estimates for lung cancer in the United States are for 2011:About 221,130 new cases of lung cancer will be diagnosed (115,060 among men and 106,070 among women).
Source: the American Cancer Society's What are the key statistics about lung cancer? web page
Not all cases of lung cancer can be prevented, but there are some ways you can reduce your risk of getting lung cancer.
The best way to reduce your risk of lung cancer is not to smoke and to avoid breathing in other people's smoke. If you would like help quitting
smoking, call the American Cancer Society at 1-800-227-2345 or the University of Michigan's Tobacco Consultation Program at 734-998-6222.
According to the National Cancer Institute people who stop smoking and never start again lower their risk of developing lung cancer or of having it
come back.
Never smoking lowers the risk of dying from lung cancer
Many products, such as nicotine gum, nicotine sprays, nicotine inhalers, nicotine patches, or nicotine lozenges, as well as antidepressant drugs,
may be helpful to people trying to quit smoking.
Types of Lung Cancer
Non-small cell lung cancer
An aggressive (fast-growing) cancer that forms in tissues of the lung and can spread to other parts of the body. The cancer cells look small
and oval-shaped when looked at under a microscope. It is more common than small cell cancer, occurring in 85% of patients with lung cancer,
while small cell only occurs in 15%.
These small cell and non-small cell lung cancers are further classified by the type of normal cell that has become cancerous. The most common types of non-small cell cancer are non-squamous and squamous cell.
Adenocarcinomas:
the most common type of non-squamous cell cancer, which means that they arise in glandular tissue that lines parts of the lungs and makes mucus
and other substances.
Squamous cell cancer:
arises in scalelike cells that cover the lining of the lungs.
Large cell:
arises in several types of large cells in the lungs.
The types of small cell lung cancer are:
- Small cell
- Combined small cell carcinoma
Source: National Comprehensive Cancer Network Lung Cancer Overview web page.
News
Recently announced results change views on how to detect lung cancer. Learn more on our Guide to lung cancer screening web page
Study links vitamin D to lung cancer survival
High-dose radiation improves lung cancer survival, U-M study finds
Lung cancer needs awareness too
If your first cigarette gave you a buzz & you now smoke, a gene may be to blame
Gene panel predicts lung cancer survival, study finds
The top killer cancer you don't know about
Women catching up to men in lung cancer deaths
Minimally invasive surgery treats early lung cancer
Use of serum autoantibodies to identify early-stage lung cancer
Risk Factors
Doctors cannot always explain why one person develops lung cancer and another does not. However, we do know that a person with certain risk factors may be more likely than others to develop lung cancer. A risk factor is something that may increase the chance of developing a disease.
Studies have found the following risk factors for lung cancer:
- Tobacco smoke:
Smoking is by far the leading risk factor for lung cancer. In the early 20th century, lung cancer was much less common than some other types of cancer. But this changed once manufactured cigarettes became readily available and more people began smoking.
About 87% of lung cancer deaths are thought to result from smoking. The risk for lung cancer among smokers is many times higher than among non-smokers. The longer you smoke and the more packs a day you smoke, the greater your risk.
Cigar smoking and pipe smoking are almost as likely to cause lung cancer as cigarette smoking. Smoking low-tar or "light" cigarettes increases lung cancer risk as much as regular cigarettes. There is concern that menthol cigarettes may increase the risk even more since the menthol allows smokers to inhale more deeply.
If you stop smoking before a cancer develops, your damaged lung tissue gradually starts to repair itself. No matter what your age or how long you've smoked, quitting may lower your risk of lung cancer and help you live longer. People who stop smoking before age 50 cut their risk of dying in the next 15 years in half compared with those who continue to smoke.
Secondhand smoke: If you don't smoke, breathing in the smoke of others (called secondhand smoke or environmental tobacco smoke) can increase your risk of developing lung cancer. A non-smoker who lives with a smoker has about a 20% to 30% greater risk of developing lung cancer. - Radon:
Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that results from the breakdown of uranium in soil and rocks. It cannot be seen, tasted, or smelled. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer, and is the leading cause among non-smokers.
Outdoors, there is so little radon that it is not likely to be dangerous. But indoors, radon can be more concentrated. When it is breathed in, it enters the lungs, exposing them to small amounts of radiation. This may increase a person's risk of lung cancer. In some parts of the country, radon is found in houses. Radon damages lung cells, and people exposed to radon are at increased risk of lung cancer. - Asbestos:
Workplace exposure to asbestos fibers is an important risk factor for lung cancer. Studies have found that people who work with asbestos (in some mines, mills, textile plants, places where insulation is used, shipyards, etc.) are several times more likely to die of lung cancer. The risk of lung cancer from these substances is even higher for smokers. Both smokers and non-smokers exposed to asbestos also have a greater risk of developing mesothelioma, a type of cancer that starts in the pleura (the lining surrounding the lungs). - Air pollution:
In cities, air pollution (especially from heavily trafficked roads) appears to raise the risk of lung cancer slightly. This risk is far less than the risk caused by smoking, but some researchers estimate that worldwide about 5% of all deaths from lung cancer may be due to outdoor air pollution. - Personal or Family history of lung cancer:
If you have had lung cancer, you have a higher risk of developing another lung cancer. Brothers, sisters, and children of those who have had lung cancer may have a slightly higher risk of lung cancer themselves, especially if the relative was diagnosed at a younger age.
Other carcinogens (cancer-causing agents) found in some workplaces that can increase lung cancer risk include:
- Radioactive ores such as uranium
- inhaled chemicals or minerals such as
- arsenic,
- beryllium,
- cadmium,
- silica,
- vinyl chloride,
- nickel compounds,
- chromium compounds,
- coal products,
- mustard gas,
- chloromethyl ethers,
- diesel exhaust.
*Radiation therapy to the lungs:
People who have had radiation therapy to the chest for other cancers are at higher risk for lung cancer, particularly if they smoke. Typical
patients are those treated for Hodgkin disease or women who get radiation after a mastectomy for breast cancer. Women who receive radiation
therapy to the breast after a lumpectomy do not appear to have a higher than expected risk of lung cancer.
*Arsenic:
High levels of arsenic in drinking water may increase the risk of lung cancer. This is even more pronounced in smokers.
*Certain dietary supplements:
Studies looking at the possible role of antioxidant supplements in reducing lung cancer risk have not been promising so far. In fact,
2 large studies found that smokers who took beta carotene supplements actually had an increased risk of lung cancer. The results of these
studies suggest that smokers should avoid taking beta carotene supplements.
Factors with uncertain or unproven effects on lung cancer risk:
- Marijuana
There are some reasons to think that marijuana smoking might increase lung cancer risk. Many of the cancer-causing substances in tobacco are also found in marijuana. Marijuana contains more tar than cigarettes. - Talc and Talcum Powder
Talc is a mineral that in its natural form may contain asbestos. In the past, some studies suggested that talc miners and millers have a higher risk of lung cancer and other respiratory diseases because of their exposure to industrial grade talc. Recent studies of talc miners have not found an increase in lung cancer rate.
Source: American Cancer Society's "What are the risk factors for non-small cell lung cancer?"
Screening
Screening is the use of tests or exams to detect a disease in people without symptoms of that disease. For example, the Pap test is used to screen for cervical cancer. Because lung cancer usually spreads beyond the lungs before causing any symptoms, an effective screening test for lung cancer could save many lives.
Until recently, no lung cancer screening test had been shown to lower the risk of dying from this disease. Earlier studies of 2 possible screening tests, chest x-ray and sputum cytology, did not find that these tests could detect lung cancers early enough to improve a person's chance for a cure. For this reason, major medical organizations have not recommended routine screening with these tests for the general public or even for people at increased risk, such as smokers.
A newer type of CT scan, known as low-dose spiral CT (or helical CT) has shown some promise in detecting early lung cancers in heavy smokers and former smokers. Spiral CT provides more detailed pictures than a chest x-ray and is better at finding small abnormalities in the lungs.
Source American Cancer Society's "Early Detection, Diagnosis and Staging Topics" web page.
Symptoms
Early lung cancer often does not cause symptoms. Symptoms that may indicate the presence of lung cancer include:
- Persistent cough
- Wheezing
- Chest discomfort
- Difficulty breathing
- Streaks of blood in sputum (mucus coughed up from the lungs)
- Hoarseness
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss for no known reason
- Feeling very tired
Source: National Comprehensive Cancer Network's "Lung Cancer -- Overview" web page.
Take action
1. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about the different over-the-counter and prescription medications available to help you quit smoking to determine which would be best for you.
2. Look into the different kinds of self-help options available for smokers interested in quitting. Visit www.lungusa.org for suggestions.
3. Take time to plan. Pick your quit date a few weeks in advance and mark it on your calendar. If you can, pick a day when life's extra stresses are not at their peak, such as after the holidays. Avoid times such as when you are starting a new job or dealing with troubles at home, if possible. Once you've decided on the date, stick to it.
4. Get some exercise every day. Walking is a great way to reduce the stress of quitting. Exercise is proven to not only combat weight gain but also improve mood and energy levels.
5. Eat a balanced diet, drink lots of water, and get plenty of sleep.
6. Ask family, friends, and coworkers for their help and support. Having someone to take a walk with or just listen can give you a needed boost.
7. You don't have to quit alone. Help is available. Consider joining a stop-smoking program like Freedom from Smoking from the American Lung Association.
Source: National Comprehensive Cancer Network's "Quit Smoking to Breathe Easier for Life" web page
from MHealthy
UM Tobacco Consultation Program
Implement a smoke free environment
Great American Smokeout Day - November 18th
Make a donation to our Lung Cancer Program.
Sign a Petition!
The Lung Cancer Alliance wants to make lung cancer a ntional public health priority and are collecting names for that effort.
"sign the petition" web page.
UMClinicalStudies, UM Clinical Trials Listing
Clinical Studies enrolling patients currently at U-M:
A Randomized, Double-Blind, Phase 3 Study of Docetaxel and Ramucirumab versus Docetaxel and Placebo in the Treatment of Stage IV Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Following Disease Progression after One Prior Platinum-Based Therapy Primary Investigator: Dr. Gregory Kalemkerian.
Double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled Phase III study to assess the efficacy of recMAGE-A3 + AS15 Antigen-Specific Cancer Immunotherapeutic as adjuvant therapy in patients with resectable NSCLC Primary Investigator: Dr. Rishindra Reddy.
Pilot Study of Radiofrequency Ablation in High-Risk Patients with Stage 1A Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Primary Investigator: Baskaran Sundaram.
Join a Support Group
Resources
Multidisciplinary Lung Cancer Clinic.
Thoracic Oncology Research Program.
University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Centers Lung Cancer Information.
UM Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.
Guide to lung cancer screening.
UM Mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells are found in the pleura (the thin layer of tissue that lines the chest cavity and
covers the lungs) or the peritoneum (the thin layer of tissue that lines the abdomen and covers most of the organs in the abdomen.
National Resources
National Cancer Institute
National Cancer Institute, Lung Cancer
Smoking and Cancer
National Comprehensive Cancer Network(NCCN): Cancer Guidelines
American Cancer Society:
American College of Chest Physicians - Living with Lung Cancer [PDF]
CancerCare Connect - Progress in Treatment of Lung Cancer [PDF]
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