What is Lung Cancer

Lung cancer happens when cells in the lung change (mutate). They grow uncontrollably and cluster together to form a tumor. There are two main types of lung cancer, small cell lung cancer, and non-small cell lung cancer.

Key Points

Lung cancer symptoms include:

  • A cough that doesn’t go away and gets worse over time
  • Hoarseness
  • Constant chest pain
  • Shortness of breath or wheezing
  • Frequent lung infections such as bronchitis or pneumonia
  • Coughing up blood

General Overview

Many people with lung cancer don’t have symptoms until the disease is in its later stages. Because there are very few nerve endings in the lungs, a tumor could grow without causing pain or discomfort.

Am I at Risk

  • Smoking is the greatest risk factor
  • Radon
  • Hazardous Chemicals such as: asbestos, uranium, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, nickel and some petroleum
  • Air pollution
  • Genes

For more information please call (603) 347-8810