Thoracic Oncology Program

Lung Cancer

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What is Lung Cancer?

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Note: This is for informational purposes only. Doctors cannot provide a diagnosis or individual treatment advice via e-mail. Please consult your physician about your specific health care concerns.

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Lung cancer is a disease in which cancerous cells develop in the tissues of the lungs. Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer deaths in both men and women, accounting for nearly a third of cancer deaths annually in the United States. It is most often caused by smoking.

There are two main types of lung cancer: small cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer. The two types grow and spread in different ways, and they are treated differently. Small cell lung cancer is less common than non-small cell lung cancer. The cancer cells are small but may develop rapidly into large tumors and may spread to the lymph nodes and other organs in the body. Non-small cell lung cancer is much more common than small cell lung cancer and includes several subtypes.

Symptoms of Lung Cancer

Many people with early lung cancer do not have symptoms, so the disease is often not diagnosed until after it has spread. A person who experiences any of the following symptoms should see a doctor:

a cough or chest pain that doesn't go away
a wheezing sound when breathing
shortness of breath
coughing up blood
hoarseness
swelling in the face and neck

Monitoring Lung Nodules Without Surgery

Improved diagnostic tests, such as CT scans of the chest, are allowing doctors to detect more lung lesions in people without any symptoms of disease. Experts at UMGCC's Indeterminate Lung Nodule Clinic carefully monitor lung nodules in patients who might otherwise have unnecessary surgery.

This page was last updated on: May 15, 2009.