Lung Cancer: From Detection to Treatment

Men and women alike are diagnosed with lung cancer each year in America. Of those diagnosed, most lung cancer patients will be cigarette smokers. Cigarette smoking is the single most likely cause of lung cancer and yet the most preventable. Smokers and people exposed to secondhand tobacco smoke account for approximately 87 percent of all lung cancer cases.

 

Though not terribly difficult to diagnose, lung cancer conceals itself well. Few symptoms are noticeable until the disease has advanced. Some people experience dyspnea and coughing in the early stages while others only exhibit symptoms later when the disease is hardest to treat.

 

Research in the area of lung cancer has provided the medical community with screening tools like the chest x-ray, CAT scans and MRIs to detect early signs of lung cancer. This early detection is important in the treatment and prognosis of the disease. If lung cancer spreads to other parts of the body treatment options diminish and palliative care is the best hope for quality of life.

 

Early lung cancer diagnosis combined with early and appropriate treatment improves the chance of survival markedly. Details on standard treatment options are available through the Lung Cancer Treatment Tool . Sign in to get information on which protocol may be best suited to you.

 

This section is divided into multiple articles, covering topics such as lung cancer symptoms & types and chemotherapy & its side effects, with each listed in the menu to the left. To research other topics related to lungs and lung health, please use the morefocus search tool, or see the related topics listed left.