About

Stages of Lung Cancer
1. Stage 0 – cancer only in lining of lung – tumor is size of a lime
2. Stage I – cancer only in lung and has not spread to lymph nodes
3. Stage II – cancer in lung and spread to nearby lymph nodes
4. Stage III – cancer in lung and spread to lymph nodes in middle of chest
5. Stage IV – cancer is in both lungs, in fluid around the lungs, or spread to organs in body

FYI

• Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among men of all races.
• Lung cancer is the second most common cancer that occurs among white, black, American Indian/Alaska Native, and Asian/Pacific Islander men.
• Lung cancer is more common in men than women and accounts for about 60% of lung cancer deaths.
• Lung cancer is most prevalent in African-American men than any other ethnic group.
• Smoking is responsible for 90% of lung cancer deaths in men. Men who smoke are 23 times more likely to develop lung cancer.
• Non-smokers are 20-30% more likely to develop lung cancer if they inhale secondhand smoke.

Symptoms

Most people whose lung cancer is in the early stages have no symptoms. However, if you experience any of the following, you may wish to consult your medical provider—especially if you have any of the above risk factors. These symptoms may not mean you have cancer, but talking to your healthcare provider and getting tested is the only way to know for sure
• Frequent shortness of breath
• Frequent coughing, hoarseness, wheezing, or trouble swallowing that won’t go away
• Coughing up blood
• Feeling very tired or weak
• Pain in your chest, upper back, arm, or shoulder
• Frequent bouts of pneumonia or bronchitis
• Change in color or amount of saliva and mucus
• Unexplained weight loss
• Unexplained loss of appetite

Prevention

While all lung cancers cannot be prevented, incorporating a few daily practices will help lower your risk of future development.
• Avoid tobacco products
• Practice a healthy lifestyle
• Limit exposure to cancer-causing chemicals
• Stay away from Radon

Diagnosis

Screening for lung cancer is very important, especially if you’re a smoker, because by the time symptoms appear, the cancer may have already spread beyond the lungs, making it much harder to treat. If you’re a long-time smoker or are in another high risk group, your provider may suggest one or more screening and/or diagnostic tests. These include:
• Sputum cytology. Examining mucus from your lungs under a microscope, looking for cancer cells.
• Imaging. Your healthcare provider may recommend an annual, low-dose helical CT instead of an X-ray.

If your cytology and/or imaging screens are abnormal, your provider may do a minor surgical procedure called a scope or a biopsy to examine your lungs and chest, and/or remove fluids or a piece of the suspected cancerous tissue for analysis in a laboratory. To do this, the healthcare provider will insert a lighted tube into the chest or lungs, going through the nose, mouth, or a small incision in the chest.

Risk Factors for Lung Cancer

• Sex. One in 13 men will develop lung cancer in his lifetime. For women, the risk is one in 16, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS).
• Age. Two thirds of those who develop lung cancer are 65 or older. Only about two percent are under 45, according to ACS. But smoking while young increases your risk of lung cancer later in life.
• Smoking. Smoking cigarettes, pipes, cigars, marijuana, or breathing second-hand smoke increases your risk.
• Exposure. Being around hazardous chemicals or substances, including radon, asbestos, arsenic, diesel exhaust, and Agent Orange greatly increases your risk.
• Family history. Having a parent or sibling who has or had lung cancer may increase your risk.
• Other lung illnesses, such as COPD, emphysema, or tuberculosis.
• Radiation. Exposure to x-rays of the chest.

Questions to Ask Your Health Care Provider

You, Your Provider, and Clinical Trials
It is important to discuss your symptoms, screenings, treatment options, side effects, and long-term prognosis with your healthcare provider. You may also want to ask your provider about clinical trials, which are studies where researchers test new drugs and other treatments on volunteer patients. Learn more at www.clinicaltrials.gov

Questions to Ask Your Doctor
• What screening tests do you recommend for me?
• What type and stage of lung cancer do I have?
• Has the cancer spread to other parts of my body?
• Do I need more tests?
• What are my treatment options and what do you recommend for me? Why?
• What are the side effects of these treatments?
• When do I need to start treatment? How long will I need to do it and how often?

Treatments

Treatment
Depending on Based on the diagnosis and the decisions made by you, your loved ones, and your healthcare provider, you may be treated with one or a combination of the following:

• Surgery. Cutting out the cancer/tumor and, possibly, a small amount of the surrounding tissue.
• Chemotherapy. Using drugs and chemicals to kill the cancer cells.
• Radiation therapy. Using powerful, highly focused rays (typically x-rays) to kill cancer cells.
• Targeted treatments. Drugs that target specific genes proteins to destroy a tumor by cutting off its blood supply. Targeted therapies are usually used when the cancer has reached an advanced stage and has spread to other parts of the body. This targeting minimizes damage to healthy cells surrounding the tumor. Note: Getting genetic testing done for these gene mutations (also called biomarkers) is the key to identifying the best targeting option for you.

Resources

For More Information on Lung Cancer Visit:

CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION
www.cdc.gov

NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE
http://www.cancer.gov/types/lung

NATIONAL HEART, LUNG, AND BLOOD INSTITUTE
www.nhlbi.nih.gov

AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY
www.cancer.org

AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION
www.lung.org