Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is the second most common cancer in men and women and the leading cause of cancer death in the United States Missouri ranks 7th in the U.S. for highest number of new diagnoses of lung cancer per year. It kills more people than breast, prostate and colorectal cancers combined. While cigarette smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer, thousands of non-smokers also die from lung cancer each year.

Symptoms

Lung cancer symptoms vary from person-to-person, but may include:

• A cough that doesn't go away and gets worse over time
• Chest pain
• Coughing up blood
• Fatigue
• Loss of appetite or unexplained weight loss
• Repeated problems with pneumonia or bronchitis
• Shortness of breath, wheezing or hoarseness
• Swelling of the neck and face

Risk Factors

Risk factors that may increase your chances for developing lung cancer include:

• Smoking
• Radon exposure
• Secondhand smoke
• Family history of lung cancer
• Long-term exposure to cancer-causing chemicals such as asbestos, arsenic and nickel; high levels of air pollution
• Radiation therapy to the lungs