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Lung cancer

Nearly 38,000 people are diagnosed with lung cancer each year in the UK. More men then women are diagnosed.

There are two types, small-cell (20%) and non-small-cell (80%). Although tobacco smoke is the chief risk factor for lung cancer, one in ten people with lung cancer have not smoked. A small number of people develop lung cancer from breathing other people's smoke.

Symptoms of lung cancer may include a cough that does not go away, coughing up phlegm or blood, being breathless, feeling tired all the time, losing weight or loss of appetite. Lung cancer is diagnosed using chest x-rays, scans and often a bronchoscopy (a narrow tube passed down the throat so that the doctor can look into the airways) and lung biopsy.

Treatments for lung cancer include one or more of the following –surgery (mainly for non-small cell lung cancer), radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. Specialist lung cancer nurses provide help and support for people with lung cancer and their families and support groups have been established in many parts of the country.

Smoking cessation programmes can help people to avoid the risk of lung cancer in the future
Exposure to asbestos can lead to the development of mesothelioma, a type of lung cancer

Read further information about lung cancer on our Cancerbackup site.