Lung cancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in one or both lungs. These abnormal
cells do not carry out the functions of normal lung cells and do not develop into
healthy lung tissue.
By racial and ethnic groups, smoking prevalence was highest among American Indian/Alaska
Natives (29.2%) and multiracial adults (27.9%), and lowest among Asians (9.5%). For other
racial and ethnic groups, smoking prevalence was 18.2% for Whites, 17.5% for Blacks, and
11.2% for Hispanics.
Surgery
The goal of surgery is to remove the tumor from the body. It works best for solid tumors that are
contained in one area. When removing a tumor it can also be used to help other treatments work
better or to help relieve symptoms like pain and pressure that the patient is experiencing.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is given as an infusion into the bloodstream. Blood travels throughout the body, it
allows the treatment to travel anywhere in the body that the cancer has spread. Chemotherapy
can also be given as a pill that you take by mouth. Typically, chemotherapy is given in cycles,
with 1 to 3 days of treatment, followed by a rest period to help the body recover. Chemotherapy
cycles may happen for 3 to 4 weeks. Chemotherapy can cause hair loss, mouth sores, loss of
appetite, vomiting, tiredness, dihedra.
Radiation Therapy
How it’s given: Radiation therapy uses a machine that aims radiation at cancer from outside the body. It
can feel like getting an x-ray—it is painless and lasts only a few minutes. Radiation is usually given 5
days a week, for up to 5 to 7 weeks. How it works: Radiation therapy targets DNA in cancer cells to keep
them from growing. Radiation can cause side effects that are like those of chemotherapy. But for lung
cancer, radiation to the chest can cause additional side effects. The effects can be shortness of breath,
cough, skin problems, and problems breathing.