lung cancer

In medicine, cancer of the lung. The main risk factor is smoking, with almost nine out of ten cases attributed to it. Other risk factors include workspace exposure to carcinogenic substances such as asbestos and radiation. Warning symptoms include a persistent and otherwise unexplained cough, breathing difficulties, and pain in the chest or shoulder. Treatment is with chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery.

In 1996 there were an estimated 177,000 new cases diagnosed in the USA.