Lung Cancer Screening
Early detection is critical to successful lung cancer treatment. For more information about screenings at the Lung Cancer Screening Clinic call 844-401-LUNG.
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States in both men and women, leading to more deaths than colon, prostate, ovarian, and breast cancers combined. It is also one of the most preventable kinds of cancer.
Early stage lung cancer typically presents no symptoms. Signs and symptoms of lung cancer more often occur when the disease has advanced to a later stage. However, some symptoms do present earlier in the disease progression.
The early signs of lung cancer may include:
Less common symptoms of early stage lung cancer may include:
Although these symptoms are likely to be caused by something other than lung cancer, it’s important to see your doctor. Detecting lung cancer early can mean more available treatment options and better outcomes.
Early detection is critical to successful lung cancer treatment. For more information about screenings at the Lung Cancer Screening Clinic call 844-401-LUNG.
When lung cancer spreads to other parts of the body, it is considered in the advanced stage. It may affect the bones, liver, or brain.
Symptoms of advanced stage lung cancer may include:
If you experience any of these symptoms, speak with your doctor. Finding lung cancer as early as possible – even if it has already spread to other parts of the body – is key to getting the most effective treatment.
Lung cancer typically begins in the walls of the lungs’ airways or air sacs, but it can spread to other parts of the body. There are more than 20 types of lung cancer. The two main types are non-small-cell lung cancer and small-cell lung cancer.
About 10 to 15 percent of all lung cancers are small-cell lung cancer. This type of lung cancer tends to grow and spread faster than non-small-cell lung cancer.
There are two stages of small-cell lung cancer: limited and extensive. Each type requires different treatment.
Although it spreads quickly, this type of cancer generally responds well to chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
This type is much more common than small-cell lung cancer, accounting for about 85 to 90 percent of lung cancers. The three primary types of non-small-cell lung cancer are named for the type of cells in the tumor:
Lung cancer symptoms can vary from person to person and may depend on the type of lung cancer and what part of the lung is affected.
Learn more about the types of lung cancer we treat
Smoking is the primary cause of lung cancer, with around 90 percent of lung cancers occurring as a result of tobacco use. The risk of lung cancer increases with the number of cigarettes smoked each day and the number of years as a smoker. Quitting at any time lowers the risk of developing lung cancer. However, smoking is not the only cause of lung cancer. Other causes of lung cancer include:
If you are experiencing these symptoms or are concerned about your risk for lung cancer, speak with your primary care physician or contact the Brown University Health Cancer Institute.