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Lung Cancer
Lung cancer is when cells grow at an
accelerated rate and do not die, as normal cells
would do. Instead, they continue to grow and
form a group of abnormal cells called a tumor.
There are two main types of lung cancer; nonsmall cell lung cancer and small cell lung
cancer. Small cell lung cancer grows at a
quicker rate than non-small cell lung cancer,
which is the most common type of lung cancer.
Non-small cell lung cancer accounts for about
87 percent of all lung cancers.
How many people are affected by lung
cancer?
Lung cancer is the leading cancer killer,
causing more deaths than breast, prostate and
colon cancer combined. In 2012, an estimated
226,160 people in the United States were
diagnosed with lung cancer. In 2012, lung
cancer caused 27 percent (an estimated
160,340) of cancer deaths in the United States.
In Illinois, an estimated 9,190 people were
diagnosed with the disease and 6,590 died from
it.
What are the signs or symptoms of lung
cancer?
There can be several symptoms of lung cancer,
including:
 cough that won't go away
 coughing up blood
 chest, back or shoulder pain
 shortness of breath
 wheezing
 hoarseness
 being tired
 weight loss
If a person notices these symptoms, he or she
should visit a health care provider, who will
often perform scans or an MRI. They can
diagnose the type of lung cancer and the stage.
What are the causes of lung cancer?
Smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer. It
is responsible for 90 percent of lung cancer
deaths among men and approximately 80
percent of lung cancer deaths among women.
Exposure to radon, a naturally-occurring,
odorless, colorless gas in the home, is the
second leading cause of lung cancer and
causes an estimated 20,000 deaths each year.
Exposure to secondhand smoke can also cause
lung cancer, and is responsible for an estimated
3,000 lung cancer cases each year.
What are treatment options for lung cancer?
Treatment plans are based on the type and
stage of lung cancer and the patient's overall
health. Many people benefit from a combination
of treatments, including:
 surgery to remove the tumor
 chemotherapy (medication that kills or
shrinks the tumor)
 radiation therapy (X-rays that damage
cancer cells)
 clinical trials
Why is increased lung cancer awareness
important?
Increased awareness and funds for lung cancer
research are needed to give people more
treatment options and to find a cure. Although it
is the leading cancer killer, lung cancer receives
disproportionately less spending than other
cancers. The disease is often not diagnosed
until the late stages, and people with advanced
non-small cell lung cancer have a 5-year
survival rate of less than 5 percent.