Approximately 150,000 patients are killed by lung cancer annually in the United States. In the past few years, lung cancer has surpassed breast cancer as the number one cause of cancer death in women, and its incidence rates continue to increase in female patients. These are distressing figures given the fact that lung cancer would be rare if not for cigarette smoking. Other important causes of lung cancer include exposure to asbestos and Radon. Lung cancer represents a major health problem not only in the United States, but also worldwide.
Most lung cancers begin to grow silently, without any symptoms.
Patients with lung cancer often do not develop symptoms until the cancer is in an advanced stage. Surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy has all be utilized in the treatment of lung carcinoma. However, the overall survival of all lung cancer patients are essentially unchanged in the past two decades. This information booklet has been written to help you understand more about carcinoma of the lung. We hope it answers some of the questions you may have about its diagnosis and treatment, and addresses some of the feelings which are a large part of anyone's reaction to the diagnosis of lung cancer.