Lung

There are usually no signs or symptoms in the early stages of lung cancer, but many people with the condition eventually develop symptoms including:

• a persistent cough
• coughing up blood
• persistent breathlessness
• unexplained tiredness and weight loss
• an ache or pain when breathing or coughing

You should see a GP if you have these symptoms.

Cancer that begins in the lungs is called primary lung cancer. Cancer that spreads to the lungs from another place in the body is known as secondary lung cancer. This page is about primary lung cancer. There are two main forms of primary lung cancer, these are classified by the type of cells in which the cancer starts growing. They are:

• non-small-cell lung cancer – the most common form, accounting for more than 87% of cases. It can be one of three types: squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma or large-cell carcinoma.
• small-cell lung cancer – a less common form that usually spreads faster than non-small-cell lung cancer.

The type of lung cancer you have determines which treatments are recommended.

Treatment depends on the type of mutation the cancer has, how far it's spread and how good your general health is. If the condition is diagnosed early and the cancerous cells are confined to a small area, surgery to remove the affected area of lung may be recommended.

If surgery is unsuitable due to your general health, radiotherapy to destroy the cancerous cells may be recommended instead. If the cancer has spread too far for surgery or radiotherapy to be effective, chemotherapy usually offered.

There are also a number of medicines known as targeted therapies, these target a specific area in or around the cancer cells that is helping them to grow. Targeted therapies cannot cure lung cancer but they can slow its spread. Survival rates vary widely, depending on how far the cancer has spread at the time of diagnosis. Early diagnosis can make a big difference.

Lung cancer is treated in a number of different ways this can be depending upon the stage of cancer, whether it has spread outside of the lung and on your general health. To read more about specific lung cancer treatments click on the links below.

• Treatment for lung cancer - Macmillan Cancer Support
• Tumour Ablation for Lung Cancer  
• Additional cancer treatments for Lung Cancer Roy Castle

To read more about cancer treatments click here.

Lymph nodes are part of a system of tubes and glands in your body that filters body fluid and fights infection.The most common symptom if cancer has spread to the lymph nodes is that they are usually bigger than normal, but lymph nodes also can get bigger if you have an infection.

So you can't be sure of the cause of a lump until your doctor has examined you and done some tests. Tell your doctor if you find any lumps or swollen areas, particularly in your neck or armpits.

Lung cancer can spread to the brain causing the symptoms below. Tell your doctor or cancer nurse specialist if you are experiencing any of the symptoms below.

• drowsiness and confusion         
• severe headaches, often with sickness                                                                              
• weakness of an arm or leg

Here are our information leaflets.

• CT Guided Lung Biopsy
• Lung Cancer
• Lung Cancer Nurse Specialist/Key Worker
• Mesothelioma
• One Stop Lung Service

The following links are to videos on a range of topics around lung cancer care.

• Referral to Lung Cancer Team
• Overview of Lung Service
• Investigations & Diagnosis of Lung Cancer
• Treatment of Lung Cancer
• Mesothelioma Video

The attached websites are useful information on different aspects of Lung cancer care.

• Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation
• Lung cancer - NHS