Lung Cancer

WHAT IS IT?

Lung cancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in one or both of the lungs. While normal lung tissue cells reproduce and develop into healthy lung tissue, these abnormal cells reproduce rapidly and never grow into normal lung tissue. Lumps of cancer cells then form and disrupt the lung, making it difficult to function properly.

RISK FACTORS

More than 87% of lung cancers are smoking related. Quitting smoking reduces an individual's risk significantly, although former smokers remain at greater risk for lung cancer than people who never smoked. Exposure to other carcinogens such as asbestos and radon gas also increases an individual's risk, especially when combined with smoking.

SYMPTOMS

• Smoker's cough that persists or becomes intense
• Persistent chest, shoulder, or back pain unrelated to pain from
  coughing
• Non-smoker's cough that persists for more than two weeks Wheezing
• Recurrent pneumonia or bronchitis
• Blood in sputum
• Increase in volume of sputum or change in color of sputum
• Fatigue
• Loss of appetite
• Headache, bone pain, aching joints
• Bone fractures not related to accidental injury
• Neurological symptoms
• Neck and facial swelling
• Unexplained weight loss

To learn more about lung cancer, click here (PDF file).