Lung cancer: fast facts
What is lung cancer?
Lung cancer is a growth of abnormal cells inside the lung. These cells reproduce at a much faster rate than normal cells. The abnormal cells stick together and form a cluster or growth, known as a tumour. If the abnormal cells began growing in the lung, this is known as a primary lung tumour.
Types of lung cancer
Cancers that begin in the lung are divided into 2 major types: non-small cell lung cancer and small cell lung cancer, depending on how the cells look under a microscope.
Non-small cell lung cancer generally spreads to other organs in the body at a slower rate than small cell lung cancer. Non-small cell lung cancer is the most common type of lung cancer, accounting for about 80 per cent of lung cancers. Small cell lung cancer accounts for about 20 per cent of all lung cancers.
How common is lung cancer?
- Lung cancer is the leading cause of death due to cancer in Australia.
- Lung cancer is the fifth most common cancer in Australia.
- More than 8,000 Australians are diagnosed with lung cancer each year.
- More than 7,000 Australians die from lung cancer each year.
- Lung cancer is the fourth most common cancer affecting men (excluding non-melanocytic skin cancer).
- In 2005, there were 5,738 new cases diagnosed in men, and 4,711 deaths.
- Lung cancer is the fourth most common cancer affecting women (excluding non-melanocytic skin cancer).
- In 2005, there were 3,444 new cases diagnosed in women, and 2,716 deaths.
National trends in Australia
As the number of men who smoke declines so the occurrence of lung cancer and the number of men dying from it are falling. However, lung cancer incidence and death rates among women have risen, reflecting a growing incidence in the number of women smoking cigarettes during the past few decades.
What are the risk factors for lung cancer?
Cigarette smoking is the major cause of lung cancer. Up to 90 per cent of cases of the disease are caused by smoking. The longer a person has been smoking and the more packs of cigarettes smoked per day, the greater the risk. However, it is not known why one smoker develops lung cancer while another does not.
Workers exposed to industrial substances such as asbestos, nickel, chromium compounds, arsenic, polycyclic hydrocarbons and chloromethyl ether have a significantly high risk of developing lung cancer.
Research has also demonstrated the link between passive smoking and lung cancer.
What are the symptoms of lung cancer?
Lung cancer is very difficult to detect at an early stage. Common symptoms include:
- a new or changing cough, along with hoarseness or shortness of breath or increased shortness of breath during exertion; and
- recurring episodes of lung infection, weight loss and swelling of the face or arms.
What is the treatment of lung cancer?
There are various treatment options for lung cancer (with different aims), including: surgery; chemotherapy; radiotherapy; and laser treatment.
Last Reviewed: 06 July 2009
- 1. Australian Government – Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). Australian cancer statistics update, December 2008 [accessed 2009, Jul 6]. Available at: http://www.aihw.gov.au/cancer/index.cfm
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