Lung cancer
Lung cancer
Being diagnosed with lung cancer can have an enormous impact on you and your family.
You are not alone, and support is available to you.
Lung Foundation
Australia
External Link
provides services and resources for people with lung cancer. You can connect with the Information and Support Centre using the
online
form
External Link
or by calling Tel.
1800 654 301
.
Some people experience judgement and stigma around a lung cancer diagnosis, especially around smoking. Remember that
cancer
is nobody’s fault and there are services that can help.
Lung Foundation
Australia
External Link
and
Cancer
Council
External Link
offer non-judgemental support and understanding to anyone affected by lung cancer.
What is lung cancer?
Lung cancer begins when cells in your
lungs
grow in a way that is not normal. Cancer that starts in the lungs is known as primary lung cancer. It can spread to other parts of the body.
When cancer starts in another part of the body and spreads to the lungs, it is called secondary or metastatic cancer in the lung. This information is about primary lung cancer only. Cancer Council has more information about
secondary and metastatic
cancer
External Link
.
There are two main types of lung cancer
non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)
small cell lung cancer (SCLC)
Treatment options are different for different types of lung cancer.
Getting the best cancer care
A lot can happen in a hurry when you’re diagnosed with lung cancer. The
lung cancer guide to best cancer
care
External Link
can help you make sense of what should happen. This will help you with what questions to ask your doctor to make sure you receive the best care at every step.
Symptoms of lung cancer
Common symptoms of lung cancer can include:
a new cough lasting more than three weeks, or a cough you’ve had for a long time that gets worse
breathlessness or wheezing
pain in the chest or shoulder
chest infection
that lasts more than three weeks or that keeps coming back
coughing or spitting up
blood
.
Some people don’t have any symptoms and lung cancer is found during other tests.
If you notice any symptoms or are worried, contact your
doctor
.
Often these symptoms are not cancer but it’s best to check with your doctor anyway.
Risk factors
Sometimes there is no clear reason for getting lung cancer. There are some things that can make it more likely to develop lung cancer. These are called risk factors and they include:
Smoking tobacco
or being around other people’s
second-hand smoke
Being exposed to
asbestos
Exposure to certain chemicals and
air pollution
If a family member has been diagnosed with lung cancer
having another lung disease or being
HIV
positive may increase the risk of lung cancer.
The risk of getting lung cancer also increases as you get older.
Having these risk factors doesn’t mean you will develop lung cancer. If you are worried about your risk factors, talk to your doctor.
Tests for lung cancer
Your doctor may do some tests to check for or confirm lung cancer. For example:
Chest
x-ray
CT scan
Lung function test
Blood test
Biopsy
There are often many tests involved with lung cancer. For more information about these tests you can read Cancer Council’s information about
tests for lung
cancer
External Link
.
Prognosis and palliative care
When someone is diagnosed with lung cancer, their doctor will give them a prognosis. A prognosis is the doctor’s opinion about the expected outcome of the disease, though it is not possible for anyone to predict exactly how it will respond to treatment.
A prognosis depends on your test results, the type and stage of cancer, the rate and extent of tumour growth, as well as the person’s age and general health.
Treatment for lung cancer tends to work better when the cancer is found early.
Lung cancer is often diagnosed at an advanced stage. This means treatment may be ongoing and life may not return to normal. However, newer treatments such as targeted therapy and immunotherapy are effective in some people with advanced lung cancer and are bringing hope to those who have lung cancer that has spread.
There are also treatments and services that can help improve day-to-day life for people living with advanced cancer.
Treatment for lung cancer
Treatment for lung cancer depends on the type and stage of lung cancer, how well you can breathe and your general health.
Treatment options for lung cancer can include:
Targeted therapies
Radiation therapy
Immunotherapy
Chemotherapy
Surgery
Curative treatment means treatment to try to make all signs of the cancer go away. Curative treatment is usually only used for non small cell lung cancer in early stages or limited-stage small cell lung cancer.
For other types and stages of lung cancer, there are treatments that can help extend a person’s life and improve their quality of life. This is called palliative treatment.
Many people think that palliative treatment is for people who are dying but palliative treatment can help at any stage of advanced cancer.
Living with advanced lung cancer
Advanced cancer usually means cancer that is unlikely to be cured. Some people can live for many months or years with advanced cancer. During this time
palliative care
services can help.
Most people continue to have treatment for advanced cancer as part of palliative care, as it helps manage the cancer and improve their day-to-day lives. Palliative care is for any stage of advanced cancer and can help improve quality of life over many years. There are doctors, nurses and other people who specialise in palliative care.
Treatment may include chemotherapy, radiation therapy or another type of treatment. It can help in these ways:
slow down how fast the cancer is growing
shrink the cancer
help you to live more comfortably by managing symptoms, like pain.
Treatment depends on:
where the cancer started
how far it has spread
your general health
your preferences and what you want to do.
Ask your doctor about treatment and palliative care services that may help you.
Living with advanced cancer is not easy. It may help to read stories of support and hope from people in a similar situation, like these
real stories from Lung Foundation
Australia
External Link
.
Support for carers, family and friends
Caring for someone with cancer can be a difficult and emotional time. If you or someone you know is caring for someone with lung cancer, these organisations can help:
Lung Foundation
Australia
External Link
Tel.
1800 654 301
Cancer
Council
External Link
Tel.
13 11 20
Carer
Gateway
External Link
Tel.
1800 422 737
Carers
Australia
External Link
Tel.
1800 242 636
Where to get help
Your
GP (doctor)
Cancer Council
Victoria
External Link
Tel.
13 11 20
Cancer Council Victoria,
My Cancer
Guide
External Link
- Find support services that are right for you.
WeCan
website
External Link
helps people affected by cancer find the information, resources and support services they may need following a diagnosis of cancer.
Lung
Foundation Australia
External Link
Tel.
1800 654 301
Quitline
External Link
Tel.
13 78 48