Lung Cancer
Lung cancer is the most common type of cancer in the Unites States. Every year more people die from lung cancer than from breast, prostate, and colon cancer combined. Most lung cancers are caused by smoking tobacco. The best way to prevent lung cancer is to never start smoking or to quit smoking now. The symptoms of lung cancer may take months or years to develop and may not occur until the disease is in an advanced stage. The treatment of cancer of the lung depends on the stage of the malignancy:
| Tumor
Stage |
Description |
| Stage I a/b |
Tumor of any size is found only
in the lung. |
| Stage II a/b |
Tumor has spread to lymph nodes
associated with the lung. |
| Stage III a |
Tumor has spread to lymph nodes
in the tracheal area, including the chest wall and diaphragm. |
| Stage III b |
Tumor has spread to the lymph nodes
on the opposite lung or in the neck. |
| Stage IV |
Tumor has spread beyond the chest. |
Treatment of lung cancer depends on the patient and the stage of the tumor. Treatment regimens may involve surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or a combination of theses three modalities. The best chance of cure is with surgery, but only patients with early stage cancers are candidates for surgery. Treatment options should be discussed with your physician.