This week's artwork was donated by Vansom, a pediatric cancer patient who received treatment at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia . The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania Lung cancer is one of the most common cancers in the United States, with approximately 170,000 cases diagnosed each year. It is important for the doctor to determine which type a patient has as this will determine what treatment is recommended.
Cigarette smoking causes the majority of lung cancers.
People who quit smoking decrease their risk of developing lung cancer. Other factors that appear to increase the risk of lung cancer include exposure to asbestos, other people's cigarette smoke and radon. Lung cancer initially grows without causing symptoms. Eventually, however, symptoms will include coughing, shortness of breath, coughing up of blood, pain in the chest or hoarseness. Lung cancers are usually first found on a chest X-ray.