Lung Cancer At A Glance

Lung cancer is the number one cause of cancer deaths in both men and women in the U.S. and worldwide.
Cigarette smoking is the principal risk factor for development of lung cancer.
Passive exposure to tobacco smoke can also cause cancer.
The two types of lung cancer, which grow and spread differently, are the small cell lung cancers (SCLC) and non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC).
Staging of lung cancer refers to the extent to which the cancer has spread in the body.
Treatment of lung cancer can involve a combination of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy as well as newer experimental methods.
The general prognosis of lung cancer is poor, with overall survival rates of about 15% at 5 years.
Smoking cessation is the most important measure that can prevent the development of lung cancer.