In some cases, secondhand smoke may cause lung cancer. Exposure to arsenic, asbestos, radioactive dust or radon may increase the chances of developing lung cancer. Many individuals with exposure to radiation on a regular basis at work or in other aspects of daily life may be at a high risk of developing lung cancer.

Lung cancer may not cause any symptoms at its early stages. For this reason, early detection of lung cancer may be difficult. Experiencing no symptoms, it may be unlikely that the person will visit a doctor. In more advanced stages of lung cancer, people may experience lung malfunction.

Symptoms may include coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath and bloody mucus coughed up. If cancer spreads to other parts of the body, it may cause other symptoms more localized or specific to those organs or areas of the body.

In diagnosing lung cancer, a doctor may perform a physical exam and take a medical history. The doctor may inquire as to whether the patient smokes or is exposed to a person that smokes. An X-ray or CT scan may be used to first detect lung cancer in many patients.

Further tests may also be required to determine what types of cancer cells may be present and what stage of cancer the patient may be going through. Treating lung cancer may be done through surgery, chemotherapy or other anticancer medications or radiation. Some combination of two or all three of these treatments may also be used. Diet and lifestyle changes may support a cancer-free recovery. The treatment used may depend on the stage of cancer and whether it has spread.

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