When you hear about lung cancer, do you think about your chest or do you think about your breathing? Whatever first comes to mind might only be a part of the full picture. It is important to know that in the U.S., lung cancer is one of the most common types of cancer and the leading cause of cancer death in men and women.1-3
Here are the four most common types you should know about:
1. Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is a rare lung cancer that develops over a long period of time. It takes a period of 30 to 50 years between exposure to asbestos and having lung cancer.
2. Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer4
Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) is the most common type of lung cancer. The different types of NSCLC are adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, large cell carcinoma, and others. Adenocarcinoma is the most common type of NSCLC and usually occurs in people who are smokers or have a history of smoking.
3. Small Cell Lung Cancer4
Only 10 to 15% of lung cancers are Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC). This type of lung cancer spreads much quicker than NSCLC and usually has already spread beyond the lungs when it is diagnosed.
4. ALK-positive Lung Cancer5,6
5% of people with lung cancer have ALK-positive lung cancer, with 30% of those people being under the age of 40. ALK-positive refers to a mutation that can lead to uncontrolled cell duplication or cancer. Unfortunately, most people diagnosed with ALK-positive lung cancer are non-smokers, and 90% of them are diagnosed after the cancer has already spread to other parts of the body. If you’ve been diagnosed with lung cancer, your doctor can do biomarker testing to determine if your ALK gene is mutated. The results of biomarker testing may change your treatment options.
FAQ
Can you develop lung cancer if you aren’t a smoker?
There are many things that can increase your risk for developing lung cancer. Although smoking puts you at the greatest risk, other factors like radon, asbestos exposure, and air pollution can also put you at risk for lung cancer.
Are all types of lung cancer the same?
There are different types of lung cancers, with non-small cell lung cancer being the most common. The symptoms between all lung cancer types look similar. There may be differences in treatment options based on the type of lung cancer you have.
I have been coughing a lot, does it mean I have lung cancer?
Coughing can be the result of various types of lung irritations, infections, allergies, or inflammatory conditions. Coughing alone does not mean that you have lung cancer. If you have coughing that does not stop or continues to get worse over time, you should see your doctor.
For more tips, join our NOWINCLUDED lung health circle.
References
1. Centers for Disease Control. (2024) Lung Cancer Basics. https://www.cdc.gov/lung-cancer/about/ CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/lung/basic_info/index.htm
2. American Cancer Society (2024) Key Statistics for Lung Cancer. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/lung-cancer/about/key-statistics.html
3. Disparities in Lung Cancer Disparities: A Review (2020). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7175982/#bib1
4. American Cancer Society (2024) Can Cancer Be Found Early? https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/lung-cancer/detection-diagnosis-staging/detection.html
5. American Lung Association (2024) ALK and Lung Cancer. https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/lung-cancer/symptoms-diagnosis/biomarker-testing/alk-lung-cancer
6. ALK Positive, Inc (2024) What is ALK Positive Lung Cancer. https://www.alkpositive.org/what-is-alk#:~:text=About%2090%25%20of%20those%20diagnosed,months%2C%20but%20with%20modern%20treatments
