Quick Facts: Lung Cancer

What is Lung Cancer?

Your lungs are located in your chest and store the air that you breathe before oxygen goes into your blood stream. Lung cancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cancer cells in either one or both lungs. It is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths for both men and women. Rhode Islanders are more likely to get lung cancer than the average American.

Almost 80% of lung cancer cases are Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC). About 20% of lung cancers are Small Cell Lung Cancers. Even though these cancer cells are smaller, they multiply faster, which allows them to spread to other parts of the body, or metastasize. There is currently no accepted screening test for lung cancer.

What if I am diagnosed?

Lung cancer can be treated, but it is very difficult to treat at the later stages, which is when it is normally diagnosed. 90% of lung cancers are fatal, mainly because they are discovered too late.

• Surgery: Most common for non-small cell lung cancer.
  
• Chemotheraphy: Cancer-killing drugs that are either injected or taken by mouth.
  
• Radiation therapy: X-rays shrink or kill cells at the tumor site.
  
• Photodynamic therapy: A chemical is placed in cells. A laser activates the chemical, which causes the cancer cells to die.
  
• Clinical trials: New treatments are always being tested to determine their effectiveness. They sometimes can offer help.
  

Talk to your doctor about the best treatment option(s) for you.

Prevention

It is easier to prevent lung cancer than to cure it! Certain lifestyle and dietary habits can greatly lower your risk for lung cancer.

• Not smoking: The most important! Even if you have smoked for a long time, quitting can decrease your risk for lung cancer. The RI Cancer Council offers a list of smoking cessation programs in RI.
  
• Regular exercise
  
• Moderate, if any, alcohol consumption
  
• Low fat, high fiber diet
  
• Avoid second hand smoke
  

Risk factors

• SMOKING: RESPONSIBLE FOR 90%OF ALL LUNG CANCER CASES.
  
• Age: Most people who get lung cancer are 50 years or older.
  
• Secondhand Smoke
  
• Exposure to asbestos: Greater risk for lung cancer if you also smoke.
  
• Pollution
  
• Radon exposure: Radon is a gas sometimes found in homes that can be detected by tests.
  
• History of lung disease: Some diseases, like tuberculosis, leave scar tissue that can become lung cancer.
  

Symptoms

Try to be aware of changes in your body. If you experience any of the following symptoms, consult your doctor.

• Constant cough that worsens with time
  
• Constant chest pain
  
• Coughing up blood
  
• Shortness of breath, wheezing or hoarseness
  
• Chronic problems with pneumonia & bronchitis
  
• Swelling of neck and face
  
• No appetite; unexplained weight loss
  
• Fatigue
  

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