Lung Cancer
What Is Lung Cancer?
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer
death for men and women.
It is also the most preventable form of
cancer.
Tobacco use accounts for 87% of lung
cancers.
There are two major types of lung cancer:
1. Non-small cell lung cancer (87%)
2. Small cell lung cancer (13%)
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Each grows and spreads in different ways
and is treated differently.
The American Cancer Society’s
Estimates
In the United States during 2008:
 215,020 new cases of lung cancer will be
diagnosed.
 161,840 deaths will occur as the result of
this disease.
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Who Is At Risk?
Cigarette smoking is by far the greatest risk
factor for lung cancer.
 The longer a person uses tobacco and the more they use, the greater their risk.
 If a person quits before cancer develops, the damaged lung tissue gradually
improves.
Others at risk include:
 Nonsmokers who breathe in secondhand smoke.
 Occupational or environmental exposure to radon, asbestos, certain metals,
radiation or air pollution. If people are exposed to the above carcinogens &
also smoke, their risk is greatly increased.
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Reducing Your Risk
Quitting tobacco use, or not starting at all,
is by far the best way to prevent lung
cancer.
Other ways to reduce your risk include:
 Avoid secondhand tobacco smoke
 Eat a healthy, balanced diet with at least five servings of fruits and vegetables
every day
 Take protective measures against cancer-causing chemicals at work
 Monitor indoor radon levels, especially in the home
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Symptoms
Symptoms of lung cancer may include:
•Persistent cough
•Sputum streaked with blood
•Chest pain
•Voice change
•Recurrent pneumonia or bronchitis
These are also warning signs of other, less
serious illnesses, so if they appear, they should
be discussed with your doctor.
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Detection
Because symptoms often do not appear until
the disease has spread, early detection is
difficult.
When lung cancer is diagnosed
early, it is usually a result of
tests for unrelated conditions.
If lung cancer is suspected,
tests such as a chest x-ray,
analysis of cells in the phlegm,
and a biopsy may be done.
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Treatment
Treatment is most successful when cancer is
detected early.
Often, two or more treatment methods are
used.
Patients should
thoroughly discuss
treatment options
with their doctors.
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Treatment Options
Surgery to remove tumors, chemotherapy,
and radiation—in combination or alone—are
common treatments for lung cancer.
Surgery – An operation to remove cancer cells.
Radiation therapy – Uses high-energy rays to shrink or kill cancer cells.
Chemotherapy – Uses anticancer drugs that attack cancer cells and normal
cells. These drugs are usually given
by injection or by mouth.
Treatment options depend on cancer type and
stage of cancer.
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Survival Rates
5-year localized survival rate is 49%
 Localized cancer is cancer that, at the time of diagnosis, had not spread to
additional sites within the body. Typically, the earlier a cancer is detected and
diagnosed, the more successful the treatment, thus enhancing the survival rate.
Only 16% of lung cancers are diagnosed at this early stage.
5-year overall survival rate is 15%
 The 5-year survival rates represent persons who are living 5 years after
diagnosis, whether disease-free, in remission, or under treatment. They do not
imply that 5-year survivors have been permanently cured of cancer.
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How Will Cancer Affect Me And
My Family?
From the time of diagnosis, everyone is affected
in some way, even family and friends.
The American Cancer Society works to enhance
aspects of life often challenged by this disease
through:
• Reducing the physical toll of cancer.
• Reducing barriers to allow those affected to continue
with their day-to-day lives.
• Reducing the social and financial impact of cancer.
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• Preserving the spiritual well-being of those affected.
Patient Concerns
People with lung cancer are often
distressed about their physical appearance,
including weight loss; the social stigma and
guilt associated with tobacco use; and end
of life issues due to the low survival rate.
Other concerns include:
 Changes in what they are able to do after treatment
 Impact on finances and loved ones
 Fear of recurrence
 Sleep difficulties
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 Pain
 Depression
You Are Not Alone
In recent years, the quality
of life for those who are
living with cancer has
received increased attention.
No one has to make the
cancer journey alone.
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The American Cancer Society provides sources
of information and support to cancer patients,
their families, and friends. These include access
to secure and private online chats, message
boards, and support groups.
Connecting With Others
ACS Survivors NetworkSM is one source of
support for people with cancer and their
families and friends. The Network will help you
find and talk to others who share your interests
and experiences.
Visit our Internet site at
www.acscsn.org.
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Hope For The Future
Tobacco control specialists are studying:
 How to help people quit tobacco use.
 How to prevent young people from starting this habit.
 How to prevent lung cancer in people at high risk.
Researchers are also studying:
 New technologies, such as computed tomography (CT) scans, and tests that
identify DNA changes in lung cancer cells.
 New chemotherapy drugs and drug combinations.
 Gene therapy’s potential for preventing or treating lung cancer.
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The Bottom Line
The number of Americans who get lung
cancer is decreasing, primarily due to a
decrease in adult tobacco use over the past
30 years.
Tobacco use among teens
and pre-teens, however, has
increased in recent years,
raising the potential for
higher lung cancer
rates in the future.
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The Bottom Line
An estimated 45 million adults (21% of the
population) are current smokers
Until tobacco use is sharply decreased,
lung cancer will continue to be the
number one cause of cancer death
in the United States, killing more than
161,000 Americans every year.
Stopping the use of tobacco could nearly
wipe out lung cancer.
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Tobacco Use Prevention
Preventing initiation in adolescents is the most
effective tobacco use prevention strategy.
What prevents initiation?
• Increasing the cost of tobacco products
through taxes. (Rates of smoking are highly
correlated with price of cigarettes.)
• Reducing youth access (prohibit sale to
individuals less than 18 years old).
• Develop counter-marketing campaigns
against tobacco use to show how youth are
being manipulated by the tobacco industry.
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Tobacco Use Prevention Cont…
Additional ways to decrease Tobacco
Use:
•Support Comprehensive State Tobacco
Control Programs
•Strengthening Smoking Bans and
Restrictions by Supporting Clean Indoor Air
Campaigns
•Help Smokers Quit
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High Plains Quitlines
• Kansas – 1-866-KAN-STOP
• Missouri – 1-800-Quit-Now
• Nebraska – 1-800-Quit-Now
• Oklahoma – 1-800-784-8669
• Texas – 1-877-937-7848
• Hawaii – 1-800-Quit-Now
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Contact The American Cancer
Society
American Cancer Society programs and
services are available 24 hours a day,
7 days a week.
To reach us:
 Visit the American Cancer Society Internet site at www.cancer.org.
 Call toll-free, 1–800–ACS–2345.
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Additional Resources
National Cancer Institute
Cancer Information Service
Telephone: 1–800–4–CANCER (toll free)
Internet: www.nci.nih.gov
American Lung Association
Telephone: 1–800–586–4872 (toll free) or
315–8700
Internet: www.lungusa.org
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212–
Additional Resources
American Heart Association
Telephone: 1–800–AHA-USA1 (toll free)
Internet: www.americanheart.org
Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids
Telephone: 202–296–5469
Internet: www.tobaccofreekids.org
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