12/08/2021
Lung cancer is the most common type of cancer worldwide.1 It often doesn’t cause symptoms until it enlarges within the lung or metastasizes (spreads) to other areas of the body. Smoking is the leading risk factor, but it can affect non-smokers as well. In the United States, lung cancer is the leading cause of death from cancer.
Paraneoplastic syndromes may trigger diagnostic testing. Diagnosis is established through imaging studies, tissue biopsy, and, sometimes, liquid biopsy blood tests. There are several types of lung cancer, each defined by the type of lung cell from which they started.
Treatment includes surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and/or symptom management. The outcome of lung cancer is generally better when it is diagnosed at an earlier stage, but each type of lung cancer has its own anticipated prognosis as well.