Living with Lung Cancer

Lung cancer usually forms in the cells that line airways. Symptoms of lung cancer may include a cough that does not go away, chest pain, hoarseness, weight loss, loss of appetite, coughing up blood, shortness of breath, and wheezing. Most types of lung cancer are non-small cell lung cancers; though some patients develop the less common small cell lung cancer. Small cell lung cancer spreads more quickly and is most often treated with chemotherapy, sometimes in combination with radiation therapy. Non-small cell lung cancer can be treated with surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and/or targeted therapies. Survival rates for non-small cell lung cancer and for small cell lung cancer vary greatly depending on the stage at which the cancer is caught and other factors.

For more information on lung cancer, read the American Cancer Society's Detailed Guide on the different types of lung cancer.

If you have been affected by lung cancer, please be sure to take some time to read others' experiences, share your own experiences, and ask or answer questions. Don't forget to view our Beginner's Guide to Cancer.