Lung cancer is currently the leading cause of death among the various types of cancer - and smoking is its major cause. Secondhand smoke has been identified as a cause of the disease, as has exposure to asbestos, arsenic, radon, and radioactive dust. In addition, anyone regularly exposed to radiation has a greater chance of contracting lung cancer.



Procedure information
Treatment choices for lung cancer will depend on the stage of the disease and may include surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy. Surgery, or removal of the cancerous growth, typically involves the removal of the affected lobe of the lung, or removal of the entire lung. Surgery is considered most effective in treating stage I and II (early stage) non–small cell lung cancer. The surgeon will usually order a lung scan and lung function studies prior to the surgery to ensure that there will be sufficient remaining lung function to support a relatively normal life.

Radiation therapy, in which high-dosage X-rays are used to kill cancer cells, is often used in combination with surgical procedures, with chemotherapy, or with both. Radiation that is employed for stages IIA, IIB, and IIIA, in which lymph nodes are involved, can reduce the risk of cancer returning to the chest area.

Chemotherapy is most often used in the treatment of small cell lung cancer. Generally, chemotherapy helps control the cancer’s growth and spread – but actually leads to a cure in only a small percentage of cases. It can improve survival in cases of non-small cell lung cancer when used following surgery.

Recovery time
As surgery that involves the removal of a lung or the lobe of a lung is a major procedure, it is typical for a patient to spend up to one week as an inpatient. After discharge, it is likely that the recovery time will be several weeks – or even months. It will take this much time to regain strength and if other conditions are present in addition to lung cancer, such as emphysema, both the hospital stay and home-based recovery may be longer.