Lung cancer

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What is lung cancer?

Primary lung cancer starts in the cells of the lung. Learn about symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and risks in our guide to lung cancer.

Risk factors for lung cancer

The most important risk factor for developing lung cancer is smoking. Learn about lung cancer risk.

Screening for lung cancer

Screening means checking for a disease in a group of people who don't show any symptoms of the disease. Screening tests, like low-dose CT scans, help find lung cancer before any symptoms develop.

Symptoms of lung cancer

Symptoms of lung cancer include a cough that worsens or doesn’t go away and chest pain that is constant. Learn about the symptoms of lung cancer.

Diagnosis of lung cancer

Tests to diagnose lung cancer, such as a chest x-ray, are done when symptoms or routine tests suggest a problem. Learn about diagnosing lung cancer.

Stages of non–small cell lung cancer

Staging is a way of describing or classifying a cancer based on the extent of cancer in the body. The most common staging system for non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the TNM system.

If lung cancer spreads

Non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells have the potential to spread from the lung to other parts of the body where they can grow into new tumours. This process is called metastasis. The tumours are also called metastasis (singular) or metastases (plural).

Prognosis and survival for lung cancer

People with non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) may have questions about their prognosis and survival. Prognosis and survival depend on many factors.

Treatments for non–small cell lung cancer

Treatments for non-small cell lung cancer include surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. Learn more about these options.

Supportive care for lung cancer

Supportive care helps people meet the physical, practical, emotional and spiritual challenges of lung cancer. It is an important part of cancer care.

Lung and bronchus cancer statistics

Cancer statistics tell us how many people in Canada are diagnosed with and die from lung and bronchus cancer in a certain time frame.

Medical disclaimer

The information that the Canadian Cancer Society provides does not replace your relationship with your doctor. The information is for your general use, so be sure to talk to a qualified healthcare professional before making medical decisions or if you have questions about your health.

We do our best to make sure that the information we provide is accurate and reliable but cannot guarantee that it is error-free or complete.

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