Lung cancer is a medical condition in which cancer cells form in the normal tissues of the lung. There are several types of lung cancer. Physicians separate lung cancers to two main groups: Small cell lung cancer and Non Small cell lung cancer.
The most important risk factor is smoking. Smoking increases the risk of lung cancer.
Signs of lung cancer include shortness of breath and a cough that doesn’t go away.
Medical tests that examine the lungs are used to diagnose lung cancer. These tests are also used to stage a lung cancer for prognosis.
Diagnosis requires a biopsy. The tissue biopsy is also characterized to stratify the different types of lung cancers. Treatment options also depend on the characteristics of the lung cancer. The 3 main treatment options are surgery, radiation, and systemic therapy that includes chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted medications.