Lung Cancer

What is Lung Cancer?

The lungs are the parts of the body that we use to breathe. Lung cancer is the third most common cancer in the UK. About 46,400 people are diagnosed with it each year.

There are two main types of primary lung cancer. These are:

non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)
small cell lung cancer (SCLC).

Sometimes cancer spreads to the lungs from somewhere else in the body. This is called lung metastases or secondary lung cancer.

Symptoms of Lung Cancer

Lung cancer may not always have symptoms early on. Sometimes it is found by chance when a person is having tests for another condition.

The symptoms of lung cancer can include:

a cough for 3 weeks or more
a change in a cough you have had for a long time
a chest infection that does not get better, or repeated chest infections
feeling breathless and wheezy for no reason
coughing up blood
chest or shoulder pain that does not get better
a hoarse voice for 3 weeks or more.

Other possible symptoms are:

loss of appetite
losing weight for no obvious reason
feeling tired.

If you have any of these symptoms, it is important to get them checked by your GP.
Many of these symptoms can be caused by other lung conditions or by smoking.

Causes of Lung Cancer

Smoking tobacco is the cause of most lung cancers and the biggest risk factor. This includes smoking cigarettes, cigars and pipes. People who do not smoke can still develop lung cancer, but their risk is much lower.

If someone stops smoking, their risk of developing lung cancer gets lower over time. After about 15 years it is almost the same as a non-smoker.

Lung cancer is also more common in older people.

Diagnosis of Lung Cancer

People may be diagnosed with lung cancer after seeing their GP about their symptoms. If your GP thinks your symptoms could be caused by lung cancer, they will arrange tests to help make a diagnosis. These can include:

a chest x-ray
a CT scan.

If these tests show anything abnormal, your GP will refer you to a chest specialist within 2 weeks. Sometimes they will do this before getting the result of the chest x-ray.

At the hospital, the specialist will explain any other tests you need. These may include:

PET-CT scan
Biopsy

Treatment for Lung Cancer

Treatment for lung cancer may include surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy drugs or a combination of these.

Your treatment plan will depend on the stage and type of lung cancer and your general health.

A team of specialists will meet to discuss the best possible treatment for you. This is called a multidisciplinary team (MDT).

Your doctor will explain the different treatments and their side effects. They will also talk to you about the things you should consider when making treatment decisions.

After Lung Cancer Treatment

You have regular follow-up appointments after treatment. This will include regular CT scans or chest x-rays

You may get anxious before the appointments. This is natural. It may help to get support from family, friends or a support organisation.

Getting support
Everyone has their own way of dealing with illness and the different emotions they experience. You may find it helpful to talk things over with family and friends or your doctor or nurse.