Lung cancer, the leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States, starts as a tumor in the lung and can metastasize to other organs in the body. Smoking is the most common cause of lung cancer, though it is possible for those who have never smoked to develop the disease. Depending on the stage and specific type of lung cancer, it can be treated with chemotherapy, radiation, immunotherapy, and targeted therapies.
What Is Lung Cancer?Medically Reviewed by Tawee Tanvetyanon | June 20, 2025
FAQ
What are the symptoms of lung cancer?
Symptoms of lung cancer include a persistent cough, coughing up blood, shortness of breath, chest pain, hoarseness, and losing weight without trying to.
Are there screening tests for lung cancer?
It is recommended that people age 50 to 80 who have smoked the equivalent of one pack of cigarettes a day for at least two decades get a low-dose computed tomography (CT) scan every year, whether they still smoke or have stopped.
Where can lung cancer spread?
Lung cancer can spread, or metastasize, to the brain, bones, and liver. Lung cancer that has spread is called metastatic lung cancer.
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Tawee Tanvetyanon, MD, MPH, is a professor of oncologic sciences and senior member at H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Morsani College of Medicine at the University of South Florid...
Simran Malhotra, MD, DipABLM, CHWC, is a triple board-certified physician in internal medicine, hospice and palliative care, and lifestyle medicine, as well as a certified health a...
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