Lung cancer is the most common cancer-related cause of death among men and women today. Over 160,000 Americans were expected to die from this disease in 1998. Deaths from lung cancer alone in 1998 outnumbered the total number of deaths from breast, prostate, and colon cancers combined. Lung cancer is often called the most tragic cancer, because the vast majority of lung cancers may be preventable.
Lung cancer develops over many years.
Cancers that are initiated in the lungs can be divided into two main types, small cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer. The cell type or microscopic appearance of the tumor cells determines the type of cancer present. Small cell lung cancer is also referred to as oat cell cancer. Non-small cell lung cancer is more common than small cell lung cancer and it tends to be slower growing and slower spreading than small cell lung cancer. There are several different types of non-small cell lung cancer.