| Cancer is uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells. | | | | Symptoms of lung cancer can vary from patient |
| Growth of abnormal cells in one or both lungs | | | | to patient. Common symptoms are continuous |
| could be indicative of lung cancer. These abnormal | | | | cough or formation of phlegm with signs of blood |
| cells have a tendency to grow but do not develop | | | | in it. More pronounced are symptoms such as a |
| into healthy tissue of lungs. Research has shown | | | | hoarse voice or difficulty in swallowing. Sometimes |
| that 87% of lung cancer is related to smoking. | | | | there is a swelling at the cancerous area. |
| Risks are considerably reduced if the person quits | | | | Lung cancer can be treated in many ways such |
| smoking. | | | | as surgery, radiotherapy or chemotherapy. |
| Extent to which cancer has spread is categorized | | | | Doctors determine treatment depending upon the |
| as different stages. The stage depends upon the | | | | stage cancer has reached. In initial stages, the |
| size of tumor and areas it has spread to. Doctors | | | | patient can be treated by chemotherapy or |
| decide mode of treatment based on the stage of | | | | radiotherapy. Usually surgery is recommended to |
| cancer. | | | | remove malignant tumor found in stage 3-lung |
| Localized cancer in a particular part of lung is | | | | cancer. If this does not suffice, the doctors |
| termed as Stage 1. If it has spread to the lymph | | | | remove the lung to abate growth of cancer cells. |
| nodes at the top of the lungs, it is termed as | | | | Some patients are given a combination of |
| Stage 2. Cancer spreads to the chest walls during | | | | treatments. Chemotherapy is administered before |
| Stage 3. There is a possibility of cancer having | | | | surgery for effective treatment. |
| spread to other parts of the body such as | | | | It is very important to detect cancer in its earlier |
| windpipe or heart, once it reaches Stage 3. | | | | stages for effective treatment. As the cancer |
| Sometimes there can be fluid collection around the | | | | spreads, treatment becomes more complicated. |
| lungs that contain cancer cells. | | | | |