Cancer services

Lung cancer

What you should know about lung cancer
Lung cancer is one of the more common types of cancer diagnosed and treated at Yale-New Haven Hospital. Nationally, it is the leading cause of cancer death. About 60 percent of the deaths are men, but the percentage of women is growing as more women smoke. Since 1987, more women have died of lung cancer than breast cancer.

The best news is that most cases of lung cancer are preventable. About 90 percent of lung cancer cases are caused by smoking, according to the American Cancer Society. Even if you are a smoker, stopping today could stop the damage to your lungs. Because lung cancer is not usually detected until it is more advanced, smokers should be watchful for any symptoms of the disease.

What do the lungs do?
You have two lungs, one on each side of your chest, which take up most of the room inside your chest. A part of the respiratory system, your lungs take in oxygen when you inhale. This oxygen is sent into the blood and transported to all the cells in your body. When you exhale, the lungs help your body get rid of carbon dioxide, a waste product of cells.

When you breathe, air enters through your nose or mouth, goes down your windpipe or trachea, and enters your lungs through a main tube called the bronchi, which branches off to each lung. The air passages in the lung become smaller and smaller, as the bronchi branch off into bronchioles and finally into tiny air sacs called alveoli.

Nonsmall cell lung cancers usually begin in the bronchi (squamous cell cancer), or along the outer edges of the lung (adenocarcinoma and large cell cancers).

Early detection of lung cancer
You should be aware of the warning signs and risk factors for lung cancer. Not smoking or quitting smoking continue to be the best ways to avoid lung cancer.

Yale Cancer Center's Research Programs hope to bring about better detection techniques and treatment methods in the future. If you need a physician, call (203) 688-2000 or go to visit our physician referral service online.

Warning signs
Lung cancer is not usually diagnosed in the early stages. Discuss any changes you notice with your doctor. Some of these symptoms can be caused by a number of conditions - not necessarily cancer - but should be checked out by your physician. If you need a physician, call (203) 688-2000 or try Yale-New Haven Health Physician Referral Online.

Changes to watch for include:

• persistent cough
• sputum streaked with blood
• chest pain
• shortness of breath
• recurring lung infections, such as pneumonia or bronchitis
• fatigue, loss of appetite or weight loss

Risk factors
Although you cannot change some risk factors, you can take major steps to reduce your risk of lung cancer. Risk factors include:

• smoking (cigarettes, cigars, pipes, marijuana)
• exposure to industrial and organic chemicals
• radon, a colorless, odorless gas that is given off by rocks in the ground. Your home can be a source of radon, especially if you live in an area that is known for radon. Testing is available. A serious source of exposure to radon is through industrial exposure and working in mineral mines.
• radiation exposure
• asbestos exposure
• tuberculosis
• second-hand smoke
• air pollution
• family history

Smoking and cancer
Cigarette smoking is by far the greatest cause of lung cancer in the U.S. Smoking has also been linked to causing cancer of the mouth, throat, larynx, bladder, kidney, cervix and pancreas.

Quitting smoking
Does quitting smoking help reduce your risk against lung cancer? Yes. But can you do it alone? If not, talk to your doctor or visit the sites below for information about getting the support you need to quit.

National Cancer Institute- Smoking Cessation

American Lung Association — Quit Smoking

Other resources

Cancer Genetic Consultation

Cancer Services home page

Treating Lung Cancer

Online physician referral service

Last revised: May 2, 2007 (dh)

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