Lung cancer

• Lung cancer is a type of cancer that starts when abnormal cells grow in an uncontrolled way in the lungs
• Lung cancer is a serious health issue that can cause severe harm and death
• Symptoms of lung cancer

  • Cough that does not go away
  • Chest pain
  • Shortness of breath
• It is important to seek medical care early to avoid serious health effects
• Treatments depend on the person's medical history and the stage of the disease
• Most common types of lung cancer

  • Non-small cell carcinoma (NSCLC)
  • Small cell carcinoma (SCLC)
• Non-small cell carcinoma (NSCLC)

  • More common
  • Grows slowly
• Small cell carcinoma (SCLC)

  • Less common
  • Often grows quickly
• Lung cancer is a significant public health concern, causing a considerable number of deaths globally
• GLOBOCAN 2020 estimates of cancer incidence and mortality produced by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) show lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer death
• Estimated 1.8 million deaths (18%) from lung cancer in 2020
• Smoking tobacco

  The primary risk factor for lung cancer
• Smoking tobacco can also affect non-smokers
• Other risk factors for lung cancer

  • Exposure to secondhand smoke
  • Occupational hazards (such as asbestos, radon and certain chemicals)
  • Air pollution
  • Hereditary cancer syndromes
  • Previous chronic lung diseases