According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), lung cancer kills more Americans than any other type of cancer. More than 159,000 Americans will die from lung cancer in 2009, according to the National Cancer Institute.
Causes
According to the Mayo Clinic, the majority of lung cancer cases are caused by smoking or secondhand smoke.
Signs and Symptoms
Lung cancer causes chronic coughing, coughing up blood, shortness of breath, wheezing, hoarseness and chest pain, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Complications
Depending on the severity, lung cancer complications can include fluid buildup in the chest, the spreading of the cancer cells to other parts of the body and death.
Diagnosing
Doctors can diagnose lung cancer by taking X-rays or CT scans of the lungs, collecting samples of sputum that's coughed up or taking a sample of the lung tissue.
Treatment
Lung cancer can be treated by surgery to remove the cancer, radiation to kill the cancer cells, or chemotherapy, which kills or prevents the spread of cancer cells.
