Lung Cancer Information, Facts and Resources

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Lung cancer begins when cells in the lungs grow out of control, forming tumors that can affect normal function of the lungs. It’s important to know that cancer can begin somewhere else in the body and spread to the lungs, however, this is not lung cancer. Here are other facts about lung cancer:

  • Lung cancer occurs when the genetic code (DNA) of your lung cells becomes damaged.
  • Cancer cells do not behave like normal cells — they do not respond to signals to stop growing.
  • Cancer cells don’t organize normally. Instead, they grow into a tumor, which may invade surrounding layers of tissue and spread to other organs.
  • The cancer cells can enter your lymph system and begin to grow in lymph nodes around your bronchi (large airways that carry air from the windpipe into the lungs) and mediastinum (area between your lungs). Lymph is clear fluid that removes waste and carries immune system cells.
  • If lung cancer has reached your lymph nodes, it is more likely to have metastasized (spread to other parts of your body), forming tumors in these places.

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Diagram of the lungs

How Your Lungs and Lymph System Work

To understand lung cancer, it helps to know more about how your lungs and lymph system work. Your lungs are sponge-like organs that work with your ribs, chest muscles and diaphragm muscle to move air in and out of your body, bringing in oxygen when you inhale and getting rid of carbon dioxide when you exhale.

How your lungs work:

  • Air travels down your trachea (windpipe), through your bronchi and bronchioles (small airways in your lungs), into your alveoli (tiny branches of air tubes in the lungs) and back out again.
  • Your alveoli exchange carbon dioxide for oxygen through tiny blood vessels. The oxygen is carried to other parts of your body through your bloodstream.

Each lung has sections called lobes:

  • Your right lung has three lobes and is slightly larger than your left.
  • Your left lung has two lobes and is smaller because your heart takes up room on that side of your body.

Around your lungs are lymphatic vessels, which are small tubes that carry lymph away from your lungs. More on the lymphatic vessels: 

  • In certain places along the lymphatic vessels, you have lymph nodes — small, oval-shaped organs of the immune system.
  • Lymphatic vessels link lymph nodes in the lungs to lymph nodes in the mediastinum.

Types of Lung Cancer

There are two main types of lung cancer: non-small cell lung cancer, which accounts for about 85% of all lung cancers and small cell lung cancer, which makes up about 15%.

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is classified into two main subtypes.

  • Nonsquamous non-small cell lung cancer: This is the most common type of lung cancer. The name covers a variety of cancers, such as adenocarcinoma and large cell carcinoma. Adenocarcinoma is the most common NSCLC. It begins in the glands that line your airways and is often found in an outer area of the lung. About 40% of lung cancers are adenocarcinomas. This is the most common type of lung cancer in non-smokers.
  • Squamous cell carcinoma: Usually squamous cell carcinoma is centrally located because it arises from the lining of your airways. Squamous cell carcinomas account for about 25% to 30% of all lung cancers.

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC)

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) occurs almost exclusively in people who are heavy smokers. It usually starts in the bronchi, grows very quickly and creates large tumors. Most SCLCs spread to other parts of the body, such as the bones, liver or brain, before they are discovered.

Mesothelioma 

Mesothelioma is an uncommon type of cancer related to the lungs. It arises from the pleura, the tissue that covers your lungs and lines your chest cavity, and is often linked to asbestos exposure. Learn more about mesothelioma.

Helping Patients Go Beyond Surviving to Thriving

Fred Hutch Cancer Center and UW Medicine thoracic surgeon, Michael S. Mulligan, MD, treats patients every day who have been diagnosed with lung diseases. He understands receiving a lung cancer diagnosis is life-changing and is committed to helping patients through their treatment.

Hear What Dr. Mulligan Has to Say
Dr. Michael Mulligan in a black suit with brown hair and a beard.
Dr. Michael Mulligan is the Director of the Lung Transplant Program and the Advanced Lung Disease Surgery Program at UW Medicine.

Understanding Lung Cancer

Stages

The treatment that your Fred Hutch care team will recommend for lung cancer will be based in part on the stage of your cancer. Stages describe the size of the tumor and how far the cancer has spread. Lung cancer is divided into two main types: non-small cell lung cancer and small cell lung cancer, and each has its own staging system.

Learn About Stages of Lung Cancer

Symptoms

Lung cancer symptoms can vary depending on the stage and type of lung cancer you have. In its very early stages, lung cancer often has no noticeable symptoms, which makes it difficult to detect.

Some symptoms of lung cancer can be chest discomfort, chest infection or coughing but it is important to note that conditions other than cancer may cause these symptoms. If you have any symptoms that concern you, talk to your primary care provider.

Learn About Lung Cancer Symptoms

Risk Factors and Prevention

Smoking is a major risk factor for lung cancer, but there are other factors that can increase your chances of developing lung cancer. Exposure to secondhand smoke, radon gas and other toxic substances can increase your risk. While not as common, some people may also have inherited a gene that puts them at higher risk of developing the disease.

The Lung Cancer Early Detection and Prevention Clinic at Fred Hutch works with patients who have tests that show lung abnormalities. The best success against lung cancer is early diagnosis and treatment, when survival rates can be greater than 80%.

Learn About Risk Factors and Prevention

Screening and Diagnosis

Lung cancer screening is crucial for detecting the disease early, when treatment is most effective. Screening usually involves testing people who may be at a higher risk, like people who have smoked for a long time or individuals who have been frequently exposed to secondhand smoke or harmful substances like asbestos.

Screening at Fred Hutch includes having a low-dose CT scan, which is the only method for detecting lung cancer recommended by the American Cancer Society, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other leading U.S. health organizations.

Learn About Screening Options

Lung Cancer FAQ

Lung cancer is the most common cancer after skin cancer, and it is the leading cause of cancer death for both men and women in the United States. Each year, more Americans die of lung cancer than of breast, colorectal, ovarian and prostate cancers combined. About 222,000 new lung cancer cases are diagnosed in the United States each year.

If you’re concerned about lung cancer or have noticed signs or symptoms, make an appointment with your primary care provider. It can help to jot down notes about your symptoms and questions to ask your physician and bring them to this appointment. During your appointment, your physician will discuss these symptoms and concerns, as well as make recommendations as to whether or not you should be screened.

When meeting with your provider, ask about your risk factors, whether you should be screened and what symptoms to watch for. You might also ask about lifestyle changes you can make that could reduce your risk of developing lung cancer.

It’s important to recognize that statistics on lung cancer survival can’t tell you how long you will live. However, they may help you better understand how your treatment might work.

Survival rates depend on a number of factors, such as the type and stage of lung cancer at diagnosis. Early-stage non-small cell lung cancer has a higher survival rate compared to advanced-stage cancers. Small cell lung cancer tends to grow faster and has a lower survival rate, but advancements in treatment are improving outcomes. Your Fred Hutch care team can explain how statistics like survival rates might apply to you.