Also called: Also called: Bronchogenic carcinoma
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 risk.
Common symptoms of lung cancer include
- A cough that doesn't go away and gets worse over time
- Constant chest pain
- Coughing up blood
- Shortness of breath, wheezing, or hoarseness
- Repeated problems with pneumonia or bronchitis
- Swelling of the neck and face
- Loss of appetite or weight loss
- Fatigue
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.
National Cancer Institute
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Lung Cancer
(Patient Education Institute) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/lungcancer/htm/index.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/tutorials/lungcancerspanish/htm/index.htm -
What You Need to Know about Lung Cancer
(National Cancer Institute) - http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/wyntk/lung
Also available in Spanish http://www.cancer.gov/espanol/tipos/necesita-saber/pulmon
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JAMA Patient Page: Lung Cancer(American Medical Association) - http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/reprint/297/9/1022.pdf
Also available in Spanish http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/data/297/9/1022/DC1/1
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Lung Cancer
(National Cancer Institute) - http://nihseniorhealth.gov/lungcancer/toc.html
- Lung Cancer(American Society of Clinical Oncology) - http://www.cancer.net/patient/Cancer+Types/Lung+Cancer
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Lung Cancer
(Food and Drug Administration, Office of Women's Health) - http://www.fda.gov/womens/getthefacts/lungcancer.html
Also available in Spanish http://www.fda.gov/womens/getthefacts/Spanish/lungcancer-Spanish.html - Lung Cancer(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/lung-cancer/DS00038/METHOD=print&DSECTION=all
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New Early Detection Studies of Lung Cancer in Non-Smokers Launched Today(05/04/2009, National Cancer Institute) - http://www.nih.gov/news/health/may2009/nci-04.htm
- Smoking Packs a Tougher Wallop for Women(05/04/2009, HealthDay) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_83766.html
- Acrylamide Doesn't Raise Lung Cancer Risk(04/28/2009, HealthDay) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_83510.html
- Cancer "Culprits" in Tobacco Smoke Revealed(04/19/2009, Reuters Health) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_83116.html
- More News on Lung Cancer http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/alphanews_l.html#lungcancer
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Chest X Ray(National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) - http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/cxray/cxray_whatis.html
- Fiberoptic Bronchoscopy(American Thoracic Society) - http://www.thoracic.org/sections/education/patient-education/patient-education-materials/patient-information-series/fiberoptic-bronchoscopy.html
- How Is Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Diagnosed?(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_3x_How_Is_Non-Small_Cell_Lung_Cancer_Diagnosed.asp?rnav=cri
- How Is Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Staged?(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_3x_How_Is_Non-Small_Cell_Lung_Cancer_Staged.asp?rnav=cri
- How Is Small Cell Lung Cancer Diagnosed?(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_3x_How_Is_Small_Cell_Lung_Cancer_Diagnosed.asp?rnav=cri
- How Is Small Cell Lung Cancer Staged?(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_3x_How_Is_Small_Cell_Lung_Cancer_Staged.asp?sitearea=
- Lung CT Scan for Cancer: Should You Be Screened?(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/lung-ct-scan/CA00086/METHOD=print
- Mediastinoscopy(Harvard Medical School) - https://www.health.harvard.edu/diagnostic-tests/mediastinoscopy.htm
- Needle Biopsy(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/needle-biopsy/MY00088/METHOD=print&DSECTION=all
- Needle Biopsy of Lung (Chest) Nodules(American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America) - http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=nlungbiop
- Sputum Evaluation (and Sputum Induction)(Harvard Medical School) - https://www.health.harvard.edu/diagnostic-tests/sputum-evaluation.htm
- Thoracentesis(American Thoracic Society) - Links to PDF - http://www.thoracic.org/sections/education/patient-education/patient-education-materials/patient-information-series/resources/thoracentesis.swf
- Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery (VATS)(Harvard Medical School) - http://www.health.harvard.edu/diagnostic-tests/video-assisted-thoracic-surgery.htm
- What If I Have a Spot on My Lung? Do I Have Cancer?(American College of Chest Physicians) - Large PDF file - http://www.chestnet.org/downloads/patients/guides/lungCancer5046.pdf
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Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (PDQ): Treatment(National Cancer Institute) - http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/non-small-cell-lung/patient/
Also available in Spanish http://www.cancer.gov/espanol/pdq/tratamiento/pulmon-celulas-no-pequenas/patient/
- Radiation Therapy for Lung Cancer(American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology) - http://www.rtanswers.org/treatment/disease/lung_cancer.htm
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Radiofrequency Ablation of Lung Tumors(American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America) - http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=rfalung
Also available in Spanish http://www.radiologyinfo.org/sp/info.cfm?pg=rfalung
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Small Cell Lung Cancer (PDQ): Treatment(National Cancer Institute) - http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/small-cell-lung/patient/
Also available in Spanish http://www.cancer.gov/espanol/pdq/tratamiento/pulmon-celulas-pequenas/patient/
- Treatment Choices by Stage for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_4x_Treatment_Choices_by_Stage_for_Non-Small_Cell_Lung_Cancer.asp?rnav=cri
- Treatment Choices by Stage for Small Cell Lung Cancer(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_4x_Treatment_Choices_by_Stage_for_Small_Cell_Lung_Cancer.asp?rnav=cri
- Treatment of Advanced Unresectable, Metastatic, and Recurrent Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer(UpToDate) - http://www.uptodate.com/patients/content/topic.do?topicKey=cancer/8947&title=Lung+cancer
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Lung Cancer (PDQ): Prevention(National Cancer Institute) - http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/prevention/lung/patient/
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Lung Cancer (PDQ): Screening(National Cancer Institute) - http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/screening/lung/patient/
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Spiral CT Scans for Lung Cancer Screening(National Cancer Institute) - http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/lung-spiral-CTscan
- What Are the Risk Factors for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer?(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_2x_What_Are_the_Risk_Factors_for_Non-Small_Cell_Lung_Cancer.asp?rnav=cri
- What Are the Risk Factors for Small Cell Lung Cancer?(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_2x_What_Are_the_Risk_Factors_for_Small_Cell_Lung_Cancer.asp?rnav=cri
- What Happens After Treatment for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer?(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_5x_What_Happens_After_Treatment_for_Non-Small_Cell_Lung_Cancer.asp?rnav=cri
- What Happens After Treatment for Small Cell Lung Cancer?(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_5x_What_Happens_After_Treatment_for_Small_Cell_Lung_Cancer.asp?rnav=cri
- Lung Adenocarcinoma(College of American Pathologists) - Links to PDF - http://www.cap.org/apps/docs/reference/myBiopsy/LungAdenocarcinoma.pdf
- Small Cell Lung Carcinoma(College of American Pathologists) - Links to PDF - http://www.cap.org/apps/docs/reference/myBiopsy/LungSmallCellCarcinoma.pdf
- Squamous Cell Lung Carcinoma(College of American Pathologists) - Links to PDF - http://www.cap.org/apps/docs/reference/myBiopsy/LungSquamousCellCarcinoma.pdf
- What Is Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer?(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_2_1x_What_Is_Non-small_Cell_Lung_Cancer.asp?rnav=cri
- What Is Small Cell Lung Cancer?(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_1X_What_is_small_cell_lung_cancer.asp?sitearea=
- Advanced Lung Cancer: Issues to Consider(American College of Chest Physicians) - Links to PDF - http://www.chestnet.org/downloads/patients/guides/lungCancer5048.pdf
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Cigarette Smoking and Cancer: Questions and Answers(National Cancer Institute) - http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Tobacco/cancer
Also available in Spanish http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Tobacco/cancer-Spanish
- Living with Lung Cancer(American College of Chest Physicians) - Links to PDF - http://www.chestnet.org/downloads/patients/guides/lungCancer5047.pdf
- Questions to Ask Your Medical Team(Lung Cancer Alliance) - http://www.lungcanceralliance.org/facing/questions.html
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Lung Cancer Risk Questionnaire(Siteman Cancer Center) - http://www.yourdiseaserisk.siteman.wustl.edu/hccpquiz.pl?lang=english&func=home&quiz=lung
Also available in Spanish http://www.yourdiseaserisk.wustl.edu/hccpquiz.pl?lang=spanish&func=start&quiz=lung
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Lung Cancer Risk: Understanding the Puzzle(National Cancer Institute) - http://understandingrisk.cancer.gov/a_lung/00.cfm
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Lung Cancer(National Cancer Institute) - http://nihseniorhealth.gov/lungcancer/toc.html
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Lung Cancer(Patient Education Institute) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/lungcancer/htm/index.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/tutorials/lungcancerspanish/htm/index.htm
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If I Had - A Nodule Noted in a Chest X-Ray(Insidermedicine) - http://insidermedicine.com/archives/If_I_Had_-_A_Nodule_Noted_in_a_Chest_X-Ray_-_Dr_Charles_Powell_MD_Columbia_University_Medical_Center_2844.aspx?p=mdlnp
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Video Assisted Thoracic Surgery (VATS) Lobectomy and Lymphadenectomy for Lung Cancer(OR-Live) - One hour program - 5/22/2008 - http://www.or-live.com/distributors/nlm-flash/ens_2311/rnh.cfm?id=730
- Atlas of the Body: The Respiratory System -- Basic Function(American Medical Association) - http://www.medem.com/medlib/article/ZZZQZDECGJC
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How the Lungs Work(National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) - http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/hlw/hlw_what.html
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Carcinoma, Bronchogenic(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Carcinoma,+Bronchogenic%22
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Carcinoma,+Non-Small-Cell+Lung%22
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Carcinoma, Small Cell(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Carcinoma,+Small+Cell%22
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Lung Neoplasms(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Lung+Neoplasms%22
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National Lung Screening Trial: Questions and Answers(National Cancer Institute) - http://www.cancer.gov/newscenter/NLSTQA
- Do We Know What Causes Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer?(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_2x_Do_We_Know_What_Causes_Non-Small_Cell_Lung_Cancer.asp?sitearea=
- Do We Know What Causes Small Cell Lung Cancer?(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_2x_Do_We_Know_What_Causes_Small_Cell_Lung_Cancer.asp?rnav=cri
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Cetuximab Plus Chemotherapy Extends Survival for Advanced Lung Cancer(National Cancer Institute) - http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/results/cetuximab-NSCLC0608
- Lung Cancer Patients: Post-Surgery Exercise Beneficial(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/NWS/content/NWS_1_1x_Lung_Cancer_Patients_Post-Surgery_Exercise_Beneficial.asp
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No Survival Benefit from Adjuvant Chemo in Stage 1B NSCLC(National Cancer Institute) - http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/results/adjchemo-NSCLC1008
- Promising New Tool to Monitor Lung Cancer Treatment Progress(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/NWS/content/NWS_1_1x_Promising_New_Tool_to_Monitor_Lung_Cancer_Treatment_Progress.asp
- Researchers Identify Genetic Predictor of Lung Cancer Risk(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/NWS/content/NWS_1_1x_Genetic_Predictor_of_Lung_Cancer_Risk_Among_Current_and_Ex-smokers.asp
- What's New in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Research and Treatment?(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_6x_Whats_New_in_Non-Small_Cell_Lung_Cancer_Research_and_Treatment.asp?sitearea=
- What's New in Small Cell Lung Cancer Research and Treatment?(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_6x_Whats_New_in_Small_Cell_Lung_Cancer_Research_and_Treatment.asp?sitearea=
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: Lung cancer: the importance of early intervention. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=19351101&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Noncalcified lung nodules: volumetric assessment with thoracic CT. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=19332844&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Phase I/II study of twenty-four-hour infusion of irinotecan in combination... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=19307740&tool=MedlinePlus
- Lung Cancer -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=lung+neoplasms[majr]+AND+english[la]+AND+humans[mh]+AND+(jsubsetk[text]+OR+review[pt]+OR+patient+education+handout[pt]+OR+guideline[pt]+OR+clinical+trial[pt])+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt]+OR+case+reports[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus
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Dictionary of Cancer Terms(National Cancer Institute) - http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary/
- Lung Cancer Glossary(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/lung/glossary/
- Find an Oncologist(American Society of Clinical Oncology) - http://www.cancer.net/patient/Diagnosis+and+Treatment/Finding+Quality+Care/Find+an+Oncologist/Find+an+Oncologist+Database
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National Cancer Institute Cancer Centers Program(National Cancer Institute) - http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/NCI/cancer-centers
Also available in Spanish http://www.cancer.gov/espanol/instituto/hojas-informativas/programa-centros-oncologicos
- American Cancer Society - http://www.cancer.org/
- American Lung Association - http://www.lungusa.org/
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National Cancer Institute - http://www.cancer.gov/
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Cancer of the Lung and Bronchus(National Cancer Institute) - http://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/lungb.html
- Lung Cancer Statistics(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/lung/statistics/
- What Are the Key Statistics about Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer?(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_1x_What_Are_the_Key_Statistics_About_Lung_Cancer_15.asp?sitearea=
- What Are the Key Statistics for Small Cell Lung Cancer?(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_1x_What_Are_the_Key_Statistics_for_Small_Cell_Lung_Cancer.asp?sitearea=
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6 Common Cancers - Lung Cancer - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/magazine/issues/spring07/articles/spring07pg8.html
- Pleuropulmonary Blastoma - Childhood(American Society of Clinical Oncology) - http://www.cancer.net/patient/Cancer+Types/Pleuropulmonary+Blastoma+-+Childhood
- Lung Cancer(National Women's Health Information Center) - http://womenshealth.gov/faq/lung-cancer.cfm
- Radon - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/radon.html
- Smoking - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/smoking.html
- Cancers - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/cancers.html
- Lungs and Breathing - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/lungsandbreathing.html
The primary NIH organization for research on Lung Cancer is the National Cancer Institute - http://www.nci.nih.gov/
Lung Cancer - Multiple Languages - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/languages/lungcancer.html