Identification and Symptoms

• Symptoms are rare in the initial stages of lung cancer. But as the cancer progresses, tell-tale signs of the disease gradually occur. Common symptoms of lung cancer include a chronic cough, chest pains, breathing problems and hoarseness. In some incidents, coughing may produce blood.
  
  

Types

• There are two types of lung cancer--small cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer. Small cell lung cancer is less common and normally affects heavy smokers. Whereas non-small cell lung cancer is the most common type of lung cancer, and it includes three sub-types--squamous cell carcinomas, adenocarcinoma and large-cell carcinoma.
  
  

Diagnosing Lung Cancer

• If your doctor suspects lung cancer, you'll need to undergo a series of test to rule out this condition. Imaging tests (MRI, CT scan or X-ray) are necessary to check the lungs for lesions or abnormalities. Examining your sputum under a microscope may also reveal cancerous cells. But oftentimes, doctors have to remove a sample or piece of lung tissue (biopsy) to confirm a diagnosis.
  
  

Treatment

• Treatment for lung cancer depends heavily on the cancer stage. Common options include surgery to remove cancerous cells; chemotherapy, an oral medication intended to kill cancerous cells; and radiation, which uses high-power rays to destroy and shrink cancerous cells. Doctors may recommend only one treatment option or suggest a combination of treatments.
  
  

Complications

• Complications are common with lung cancer. The cancer can spread to other organs such as the brain, bones and liver. And unfortunately, once the cancer spreads or metastasizes, the survival rate decreases. According to the Mayo Clinic, approximately 60 percent of people diagnosed with lung cancer die within one year. Hence, early detection and treatment are key to survival.