Lung Cancer Symptoms & Causes

Managing Your Lung Cancer Symptoms

Most people with lung cancer have both the symptoms of their cancer and the side effects from treatment. Although people with lung cancer can have different symptoms, there are a few symptoms that most people with lung cancer have in common at some point in their illness. Here's a list of what they include.

• Shortness of breath

• Chest pain

• Fatigue

• Loss of appetite, which can lead to weight loss

If you have any of these symptoms, it is possible to manage them. To learn how to do that, talk with your doctor or nurse. Your family members or caregivers should also talk with your doctor or nurse to find out how they can help you manage your symptoms as well.

Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is cancer that usually starts in the lining of the bronchi (the main airways of the lungs), but can also begin in other areas of the lungs, including the bronchioles, or alveoli. It is the leading cause of cancer death in both men and women. In 2011, 221,130 new cases of lung cancer are expected, according to the American Cancer Society.

Lung cancers are believed to develop over a period of many years.

Nearly all lung cancers are carcinomas, a cancer that begins in the lining or covering tissues of an organ. The tumor cells of each type of lung cancer grow and spread differently, and each type requires different treatment.