Lung cancer may be divided into two groups: small cell and non-small cell. Small .
cell lung cancer spreads aggressively and occurs almost exclusively in smokers. In the .
United States it accounts for about 20 percent of lung cancers. Non-small cell lung .
cancer, which is more common, accounts for almost 80 percent of lung cancers. There are .
three major categories of non- small cell lung cancer. The three categories are Squamous .
cell carcinoma, which forms in cells lining your airways and it is the most common type .
of lung cancer in men. The second is Adenocarcinoma, which begins in the mucus-.
producing cells of the lungs and is the most common lung cancer in women and .
individuals who have never smoked. The third category is large cell carcinoma, which .
originates in the peripheral part of the lungs. Some early lung cancers do not show up on .
a x-ray film, they are the ones that usually produce cough as an early symptom. .
For this reason, any cough that last more than two or three weeks, even if it seems .
to accompany a cold or bronchitis should be regarded as suspicious and investigated in .
that light. Blood in the septum is another early warning sign that must be investigated .
immediately; so should wheezing when breathing. Later symptoms include shortness of .
breath, pain in the chest, fever, and night sweats. .
Lung cancer can spread locally to affect tissues immediately surrounding the .
Rocca 3.
lungs or a spread to other parts of the body, especially the liver, brain and bones. Pain .
may occur in these sites, and weight loss is a frequent symptoms. Local spread may cause .
the collapse of a lung or pneumonia , or affect pleura membrane covering the lung .
causing pleural effusion a collection of fluid between the lung and the chest wall. .
If there is a suspicion of lung cancer there is a series of diagnostic test that can be .