Lung Cancer Symptoms

Usually, the symptoms for lung cancer are very non-specific. It can mimic bronchitis, pneumonia, such as cough, coughing up blood, shortness of breath, chest pain, wheezing, etc.

At later stages, when there are systemic involvement, patient may also experience fatigue, weight loss, bone pain, etc.

If a patient is at high risk of developing lung cancer and has above mentioned symptoms, he/she better seeks for medical attention.

Targeted Lung Cancer Treatment

EGFR (Epidermal growth factor receptor) Inhibitor
        Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI's):

            Erlotinib (Tarceva)
            Gefitinib (Iressa)

        EGFR Monoclonal Antibody:
            Cetuximab (Erbitux)

VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) Inhibitor
        Bevacizumab (Avastin)
    
EML4-ALK Inhibitor
        Crizotinib (Xalkori)

Causes for Lung Cancer

Smoking

About 90% of lung cancers arising as a result of tobacco use, 25 times higher than a nonsmoker. Pipe and cigar smoking also can cause lung cancer, although the risk is not as high as with cigarette smoking.

Passive smoking
24% increase in risk for developing lung cancer

Asbestos fibers

Asbestos workers who do not smoke have a fivefold greater risk of developing lung cancer than nonsmokers, but asbestos workers who smoke have a risk that is fifty- to ninetyfold greater than nonsmokers.

Radon gas

An estimated 12% of lung-cancer deaths attributable to radon gas, or about 20,000 lung-cancer-related deaths annually in the U.S., one out of every 15 homes in the U.S. contains dangerous levels of radon gas. Radon gas is invisible and odorless, but it can be detected with simple test kits.

Familial predisposition

Lung diseases

The presence of certain diseases of the lung, notably chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), is associated with an increased risk (four- to sixfold the risk of a nonsmoker) for the development of lung cancer even after the effects of concomitant cigarette smoking are excluded.

Prior history of lung cancer

Air pollution

Lung Cancer Survival Rate

Overall Lung Cancer Survival Stats
Survival rates for lung cancer vary depending on the type of cancer diagnosed and how early in progression the illness is diagnosed. Estimated overall survival rate for all lung cancer patients (regardless of cancer type and cancer stage) are estimated at:

Survival Time after Diagnosis
Years after Diagnosis Survival Rates
5 15%
10 5%



By the stage of cancer at diagnosis, survival rates are estimated at:

Survival Rate by Stage of Cancer at Diagnosis

Stage Survival Rates
Stage 0 70-80%
Stage I 50%
Stage II 30%
Stage III 15%
Stage IV Less than 2%

Reasons to quit smoking

1. Protect you lungs

2. Cigarette is toxic

3. It's not late to quit!

4. Smoking is not cool



5. Save huge money!

6. Smoking causes cancer