In such cases, patients may have difficulty breathing and can sometimes become drowsy. Radiation therapy can cause unusual tiredness, pain on swallowing and skin reactions in the area being treated. Chemotherapy affects not only cancer cells but also other rapidly growing cells, such as blood cells, hair cells and cells that line the digestive tract. As a result, the patient may have side effects such as anaemia, an increased risk of infection or bleeding, hair loss, nausea and vomiting. Fatigue also may occur during treatment with anti-cancer drugs.
Loss of appetite can be a serious problem for cancer patients.
The outlook for a person with lung cancer depends on the type of cancer, the stage of the disease and the patient's age, general health and response to treatment. This increase is largely a result of better methods of surgery and some progress in chemotherapy and radiation therapy. This page contains basic information. If you are concerned about your health, you should consult a doctor. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites Links to other Medical notes stories are at the foot of the page.