Lung cancer is cancer that starts in the lungs.
The lungs are located in the chest. When you breathe, air goes through your nose, down your windpipe (trachea), and into the lungs, where it flows through tubes called bronchi. Most lung cancer begins in the cells that line these tubes.
There are two main types of lung cancer:
If the lung cancer is made up of both types, it is called mixed small cell/large cell cancer. If the cancer started somewhere else in the body and spreads to the lungs, it is called metastatic cancer to the lung.
Your life is busy and this is not in your plans. You likely came to see us with some troubling symptoms and have learned that it’s possible that you have lung cancer.
TriHealth’s Cancer institute will make this as simple as we can. We will walk you through each test, each trial and the entire process so that it makes sense and is easy to understand.
We treat lung cancer patients on a daily basis and provide extraordinary care.
Your lungs are a pair of cone-shaped breathing organs inside the chest. The lungs bring oxygen into the body when breathing in and send carbon dioxide out of the body when breathing out. Each lung has sections called lobes. Two tubes called bronchi lead from the trachea (windpipe) to the lungs.
The two main types of lung cancer are non-small cell lung cancer and small cell lung cancer. The types are based on the way the cells look under a microscope. Non-small cell lung cancer is much more common than small cell lung cancer.
The TriHealth Cancer Institute offers several treatments for lung cancer, including radiation, chemotherapy and/or surgery to remove all or part of a tumor.
Surgery for lung cancer is known as a lobectomy. Similar to “open heart” surgery, it traditionally involves sternotomy – cutting through the breastbone and opening the ribs. This can cause significant trauma, prolong healing time and increase the risk for serious complications and even mortality.
Many of our patients remain in remission. During this time, your health care team guides you through a program to stay healthy and a synopsis of what to expect. This begins the day you walk through our doors until you are in remission and sometimes longer.
Lung cancer is more common in older adults. It is rare in people under age 45.
Cigarette smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer. The more cigarettes you smoke per day and the earlier you started smoking, the greater your risk of lung cancer. There is no evidence that smoking low-tar cigarettes lowers the risk.
Lung cancer can also affect persons who have never smoked.
Secondhand smoke (breathing the smoke of others) increases your risk of lung cancer.
The following may also increase your risk of lung cancer:
Early lung cancer may not cause any symptoms.
Symptoms depend on the type of cancer you have, but may include:
Other symptoms that may also occur with lung cancer, often in the late stages:
These symptoms can also be due to other, less serious conditions, so it is important to talk to your health care provider.
Did Your Know?
National Cancer Institute (Video): Lung Cancer Stats