Lung Cancer

Lung cancer occurs when abnormal cells grow and multiply in the lungs. About 90% of lung cancers are caused by smoking or exposure to secondhand smoke.

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Lung cancer is a tumor in the lungs. However, not all lung tumors are cancerous. Smoking is the primary cause of lung cancer.

About 80 percent of lung cancers are non-small cell lung cancer, or NSCLC. The most common kinds of non-small cell lung cancer are adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and large cell carcinomas.

The other main type of lung cancer is called small cell lung cancer. Small cell lung cancer spreads more quickly than non-small cell lung cancer. Small cell lung cancer gets its name from the size of the tumor cells. When viewed through a microscope, the tumor cells are noticeably smaller than the healthy cells around them.

Comprehensive, multidisciplinary lung cancer care

At University of Iowa Health Care Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center, every lung cancer patient is treated by a team of lung cancer experts. They only see lung cancer patients and understand every aspect of the disease, including the most recent treatment options — from chemotherapy to radiation therapy to surgery.

The team includes medical oncologists, surgical oncologists, radiation oncologists, genetic counselors, pathologists, bronchoscopists, pharmacists, nurses, and laboratory-based scientists. Your team will meet regularly to discuss the best treatments and create a personalized plan for you.

Our doctors are also researchers also are actively involved in cutting-edge studies funded by the National Cancer Institute that are testing new ways to treat brain cancer.

Risk factors for lung cancer

Most people who die from lung cancer got the disease from smoking, and smoking causes most lung cancer. For most people, the best way to lower the risk of getting lung cancer is to stop smoking and to stop exposing their lungs to chemicals that cause lung disease.

Other risk factors for lung cancer include:

Exposure to substances like asbestos or metal dust

Radon exposure

Secondhand smoke

Family history of lung cancer

Signs and symptoms of lung cancer

People who have lung cancer don’t always notice any symptoms right away. That’s one of the reasons lung cancer can be so dangerous—the symptoms aren’t obvious until the cancer has grown and spread.

Early signs of lung cancer include:

A persistent cough that keeps getting worse

Coughing up phlegm that has blood in it

Shortness of breath or wheezing

Hoarse voice or a change in your voice

Constant chest pains

Pneumonia or bronchitis that keeps coming back

Swelling around your neck or face

More advanced lung cancer may cause symptoms

As it grows, lung cancer can spread to other parts of the body, such as bones, the abdomen, or the brain. More advanced lung cancer may cause symptoms such as:

Difficulty swallowing

Back pain

Loss of control of bowels or bladder

Headache, blurred vision, nausea

Slight yellowing in the skin or eyes

Lumps on the body

Talk to you provider if you have any of these symptoms, especially if you smoke now or if you have smoked in the past. 

How lung cancer is diagnosed

Not all lung cancers have symptoms that you’ll notice. Screening tests are the most effective way to find lung cancer early, before the cancer has had a chance to spread. 

A screening is a test that looks for a disease when you have no symptoms. Lung cancer screening can detect very small, early-stage cancers. The procedure is fast, noninvasive, and may be lifesaving. If you are a smoker, or previously smoked, you may be eligible for lung cancer screening.

If you have symptoms of lung cancer, your provider will begin with a physical exam and ask some questions about your health history to decide if you are at risk.

If additional testing is needed, they may recommend one or more of the following:

Blood tests. Your provider may collect issue, blood, urine, or mucus samples that can be tested in a lab.

Computed tomography (CT). These scans can help your provider look for lumps of tissue called nodules. Most nodules are not cancer, but if there are nodules in your lungs, your doctor will want to get a closer look at them to make sure they’re not cancer.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). These scans can help your provider see the exact size and position of your tumor. Your provider can also use this to determine if the cancer has spread to other parts of the body.

Biopsy. This test involves taking a sample of your tumor and viewing it under a microscope to see if any cancer cells are present.

If lung cancer is diagnosed, your provider may also recommend molecular testing to learn about specific mutations or changes in your lung cancer. Knowing these mutations can help your provider choose a treatment that targets the type of cells found in your specific tumor.

Cancer patient in hallway at Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center

Every cancer diagnosis is unique.

That’s why getting a second opinion matters. Our cancer experts can confirm your diagnosis and help you understand all your treatment options.

Learn more about getting a second opinion

Treatments for lung cancer

Treatments for lung cancer depend on your age and health as well as the stage of the cancer. Many lung tumors can be treated with surgery if they are caught early and small enough. However, if the cancer has grown and spread other treatments like chemotherapy, immunotherapy or radiation therapy may also be used.

Targeted therapy is another treatment option that targets specific mutations or changes in a lung cancer tumor. The KRAS G2C molecular target is found in 15% of cases of non-small cell lung cancer and can be targeted with specific drugs or clinical trials.

Clinical trials are research studies that give you the opportunity to receive the most recent, advanced treatment options, such as drugs that are not yet on the market and other promising treatments that could increase your chances for recovery and improve your quality of life.