• What is lung cancer?
• Early signs
• Types of lung cancer
• Diagnosis and treatment
• Treatment overview
• Risk factors
• Treatment at GenesisCare
• FAQs

Lung cancer is a tumour or mass formed by abnormal cells in the lungs, airways (bronchi) or windpipe (trachea). Cancer that starts in the lungs is called primary lung cancer, whereas cancer that starts somewhere else and then spreads to the lungs is called secondary lung cancer or lung metastases.

With 49,000 new cases every year, lung cancer is the third most common cancer in the UK, according to Cancer Research UK. Almost half (45%) of new lung cancer cases are in people over 75. 

More people pass away from lung cancer than any other type of cancer. This is why detecting lung cancer at the earliest stages is very important.

Lung cancer does not always cause symptoms, especially in the early stages. But diagnosing the disease early gives the best outcomes, so see a doctor quickly if ever you notice symptoms.

Signs of lung cancer include:

• A cough lasting more than three weeks
• Chest infections or pains
• Breathlessness
• Fatigue
• A hoarse voice
• Blood in your phlegm or mucus
• Loss of appetite
• Unexplained weight loss
  
  

Having one or more of these symptoms doesn’t always mean you have lung cancer, as other conditions can cause them too. But lung symptoms always need to be checked by a doctor and you may still need treatment to help your symptoms, regardless of the cause.

If you're concerned about lung cancer, see your GP as soon as possible who may arrange for you to have some tests to help decide if you need to see a specialist such as a pulmonologist.

There are two main types of lung cancer, which are diagnosed depending on the type of cell the cancer started in. It’s helpful to know which one you have, as the staging and treatment approaches differ between the two. 

The most common type of lung cancer is non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), which includes two main subtypes of cancer named after the cells they affect:

• Adenocarcinoma, which starts in the gland cells that make mucus in your lungs
• Squamous cell cancer, which starts in the cells that cover the airways

Depending on the stage, NSCLC can be treated with surgery or radiotherapy, which may be given with chemotherapy or immunotherapy.

EGFR mutation positive lung cancer is a type of lung cancer. It’s called EGFR mutation lung cancer positive every cancer cell carries a mutation in the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) gene.

You’re more likely to have EGFR mutation positive lung cancer if you:

• Have adenocarcinoma
• Are a woman
• Have never smoked or are light smokers

Small-cell lung cancer gets its name because the appear much smaller when viewed under a microscope by a pathologist. It’s a less common type of lung cancer.

Small-cell lung cancer is usually not treated with surgery unless it’s found at a very early stage. Your treatment plan may combine chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or immunotherapy. 

The main cause of lung cancer is smoking, which is linked to 7 in 10 cases. Your risk increases depending on how long you have smoked for and the amount you smoke.

Smoking isn’t the only cause of lung cancer, and 1 in 5 people with lung cancer have never smoked.

Some types of lung cancer are more common in people who have never smoked. EGFR mutation positive lung cancer is a subtype that mainly affects women and never smokers, and accounts for around 10 to 15% of all lung cancers. 

Other factors that increase your risk include exposure to certain chemicals and pollution and a family history of lung cancer. 

Lung cancer is commonly diagnosed after seeing a consultant for symptoms like a long-lasting cough or breathlessness.

The first step to diagnosis is to have imaging scans, including chest X-rays, CT scans, and PET-CT scans. If these show evidence of a possible cancer, such as a mass or tumour in the lungs, then a biopsy is needed to diagnose lung cancer.

Lung cancer staging describes how far the cancer has spread, which is used to decide the best possible treatment plan.

Non-small cell lung cancer has four possible stages:

• Stage one – the cancer is small, and hasn’t spread outside the lungs
• Stage two – also called early-stage, when there are one or more tumours in the same lung and/or nearby lymph nodes
  
• Stage three – also called locally advanced, where the cancer has spread to nearby tissues or lymph nodes
  
• Stage four – also called advanced or metastatic, where the cancer has spread outside the lungs
  

It is possible to cure non-small cell lung cancer when it is stage I-III. The care of patients with stage IV lung cancer is more focused on treating and managing the cancer.

There are only two stages to describe small-cell lung cancer:

• Limited disease, meaning the cancer is only in one lung, may have spread to nearby lymph nodes and can be treated with radiotherapy
• Extensive disease, meaning the cancer is in both lungs and may have spread to far away lymph nodes or other organs

Limited stage small cell lung cancer can be cured in some patients. The care of patients with extensive stage small cell lung cancer is more focused on treating and managing the cancer.

As the third most common type of cancer in the UK, there are many treatments available for lung cancer.

Treatment usually combines two or more types of therapy, which depend on the stage and type of cancer.

The main treatments for lung cancer include:

• Surgery – mainly used for early-stage NSCLC (stage I-III), surgery aims to remove as much disease as possible and is often the first step for treating early or locally advanced lung cancer
  
• Radiotherapy – a non-invasive treatment that uses high doses of radiation to kill cancer cells, radiotherapy can be a curative treatment in patients with early stage NSCLC (stage I-III) and limited stage small-cell lung cancer.  Stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR) can be used as a curative treatment for patients with very early stage NSCLC (stage I-II) or as a way of controlling the cancer or helping with symptoms in patients with more advanced cancer (stage 4).
• Chemotherapy – This may be given before, during or after surgery or radiotherapy to increase the chances of curing the cancer. For people with advanced NSCLC (stage IV) this may be their main treatment for their lung cancer but may also be given in combination with immunotherapy or targeted therapy. This treatment is usually given as an infusion through a vein.
• Immunotherapy – There are immunotherapies available for lung cancer, which aim to increase the immune system’s natural response to cancer cells to help destroy them. This may be recommended before surgery, after surgery, following radiotherapy or as a treatment for patients with advanced NSCLC (stage IV). Sometimes immunotherapy is given in combination with chemotherapy. This treatment is usually given as an infusion through a vein.
  
• Targeted Therapy – Targeted drug therapies, often given in tablet form are, are given to patients who have a cancer that contain specific mutations in certain genes. EGFR mutation positive lung cancer is the most common type of cancer treated with a targeted drug therapy but there are many others rarer types.

Learn more about treatments for other types of lung-related cancer:

• Mesothelioma

Risk factors can increase your chances of developing lung cancer.

These include:

• Older age – 45% are diagnosed over 75
• Smoking - including second-hand smoke
• Exposure to chemicals – including radon, asbestos and air pollution 
• A family history of lung cancer
• Certain medical conditions affecting the lungs

Anyone can get lung cancer, even without risk factors. Always see a doctor if you have symptoms. 

Lung cancer is a serious disease, and both the condition and its treatment can cause complications. Patients with lung cancer need continuous support to reduce complications and improve recovery for the best possible outcomes.

At GenesisCare, you’ll be under the care of a team of experts, including consultant oncologists and surgeons. They will create a custom care plan based on your diagnosis and preferences, starting treatment within days if needed. Every patient is supported through their journey with life-changing therapies, such as exercise medicine and psychological support.

Most cases of lung cancer are linked to smoking, which includes second-hand smoke. Quitting smoking reduces your risk of lung cancer and improves your health at any age, no matter how long you’ve smoked. Quitting smoking can also help reduce the possible side effects from treatment.

We are the UKs leading provider of specialist private cancer care. By choosing us, you can be reassured that your lung cancer treatment will be managed by a team of specialists working together with you to decide the best personalised care plan for your diagnosis.

Our approach to world-class care for lung cancer includes:

• A personalised plan built around you
• Treatment starting within days if needed
• 14 outpatient cancer centres across the UK
• State-of-the-art facilities specialising in advanced radiotherapy
• Compassionate chemotherapy nurses available 24/7 by telephone
  
• Integrative cancer care including wellbeing therapies and exercise medicine
• We'll help you with transport depending on treatment and locations, when required
• Recognised by all leading private medical insurers with self-pay options available

We’re proud that so many patients rate our care as excellent as we help them through their cancer journey. Find out more about the unique experiences of people who have had their cancer diagnosis or treatment at GenesisCare in our patient stories section.