Lung Cancer Management: What to Know

Within their lifetime, lung cancer will affect 1 in 16 patients assigned male at birth (AMAB) and 1 in 17 patients assigned female at birth (AFAB). While it is currently the leading cause of deaths due to cancer worldwide, these rates are steadily dropping due to earlier detection in patients and advancements in treatments. This article will provide a brief overview of lung cancer and how it is diagnosed, emphasizing current treatment options and support resources.

 

What is lung cancer?

Lung cancer occurs when abnormal cells within the lungs grow and spread uncontrolled. They may form tumors or abnormal growths, and they can affect lung function and even spread to other areas of the body in advanced cases. When this happens, it is called metastatic lung cancer and is still classified as such even if it spreads to the brain, bones or other organs. Because the initial cancer began in the lungs, it is categorized as lung cancer. Here is a brief overview of lung cancer types:

• NSCLC (non-small cell lung cancer): This type affects over 80% of lung cancer patients. Subtypes include large cell carcinoma (found anywhere in the lungs), adenocarcinoma (found in the cells that line the alveoli) and squamous cell carcinoma (found in the cells that line the lungs).
• Lung carcinoid tumors: This less common variation begins in the neuroendocrine cells, which are found in other areas of the body as well as the lungs. To be categorized as lung cancer, however, it must initially start in the lungs.
• SCLC (small cell lung cancer): This type only makes up 10–15% of lung cancer cases. Subtypes are also called small cell carcinoma and combined small cell carcinoma. It can be a more aggressive and fast-spreading variation.

 

Lung cancer diagnosis

While this article focuses on lung cancer management, understanding how physicians diagnose lung cancer can also be helpful. Here is a brief overview of diagnostic techniques:

• Physical examination: The physician may listen to the lungs with a stethoscope, ask about symptoms and health history and perhaps collect a mucus sample for the purpose of a “sputum cytology” assessment to look for cancer cells. This is reviewed in a laboratory.
• Chest X-ray: This imaging method uses low-dose radiation to look for tumors, suspicious areas in the lungs or other signs of cancer.
• MRI scan: Magnetic resonance imaging scans use strong magnets and radio waves to produce highly detailed internal images, which can help show abnormalities or determine if the cancer has spread.
• CT scan: Computed tomography scans are similar to X-rays; however, they use several image “slices” taken from multiple views rather than one or two images. These slices are then compiled into a very detailed image, which can be evaluated for tumors, irregularities or signs of cancer in other areas of the body.
• PET scan: Positron emission tomography is an imaging technique where a substance called a radiotracer is injected into the patient to track how tissues absorb this material. It is a low-dose radioactive sugar that is absorbed faster in cancer cells, indicating if lung cancer has spread to other areas of the body. A special camera can track areas where more absorption occurs, helping to stage and diagnose the disease.
• Biopsy: A lung biopsy is when a tissue sample is collected for laboratory analysis to look for cancer cells. There are various techniques for collection, including needle biopsies or endoscopic methods. Often, these procedures are guided by medical imaging such as CT scans to assist in locating the correct area to be biopsied.

Lung cancer staging

Lung cancer staging refers to how far lung cancer cells have spread throughout the body. Earlier stages are isolated to specific areas of the lungs, whereas later stages may have spread to other regions and organs such as the bones or brain. The stage of the disease and how quickly it is thought to be growing will usually guide treatment decisions, making it an important component of lung cancer management. Because staging can be highly detailed, a more thorough explanation of lung cancer stages can be found here. Here is a simplified overview of the various stages:

• Stage 0: Cancer cells are found only within the top lining of the lung or bronchus.
• Stage 1: Cancer cells have not spread further than the lung.
• Stage 2: There may be multiple tumors within the lung or it may have spread to lymph nodes within the lung.
• Stage 3: An increased amount of cancer compared to previous stages, which may be grown to nearby structures or lymph nodes.
• Stage 4: Cancer cells have spread to other areas of the body, also called metastatic cancer.
• Limited stage: Cancer cells are only within one lung, though they may also affect adjacent lymph nodes.
• Extensive stage: Cancer cells have spread throughout the entire lung, to the other lung or to other regions of the body.

Treating lung cancer

There are multiple methods to treat lung cancer, many of which are used in combination with each other. The method may vary depending on the patient’s health history, the doctor’s recommendations and the stage of the disease. Here is an overview of different treatment possibilities.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is the treatment of cancer with special drugs, which can shrink or kill cancer cells. They may be taken in pill form, intravenously or both. Sometimes this treatment is used after the surgical removal of cancerous tumors or growths in order to kill remaining cancer cells. Other times, it may be the primary treatment depending on the patient’s circumstances. Side effects of chemotherapy drugs may include a higher risk for infections, nausea, fatigue and temporary hair loss.

Radiation

Radiation therapy involves the use of high-energy beams such as those found in X-rays. These are used to destroy cancer cells and are often administered after surgery to destroy any lingering cancer and reduce the possibility of recurrence. Side effects may include inflammation, fatigue and sunburn-like skin irritations.

Targeted therapy

Often, cancer cells feed off specific molecules (such as proteins) in order to grow and spread. Targeted therapy uses medication that works against these molecules, interfering with the cancer’s fuel source to slow or stop its growth.

Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy uses special medications that boost the patient’s immune system to help their body fight off the cancer. Typically, cancer cells tend to evade the immune system, as it can’t always recognize them. Immunotherapy allows the body to better detect the threat and improve its ability to defend itself. This treatment is relatively new compared to others, and doctors and scientists continue to make promising progress in developing this technique.

Surgery

Surgery is a common method to treat cancer, though much depends on the stage, where the tumor is located and the patient’s underlying health. The intent is to remove the tumor and adjacent tissues, including affected lymph nodes if necessary. Surgery can be highly effective in earlier stages where the cancer cells haven’t spread to other regions of the body. Here is a brief overview of lung cancer surgery types:

• Lobectomy: In human anatomy, the left lung has two lobes and the right has three. When one of these lobes has cancerous cells, it can be removed (called resection). This is the most frequent kind of lung cancer surgery. It can also include resecting two lobes (bilobectomy), or a sleeve lobectomy, which is when the lobe and part of the nearby bronchus are removed. The rest of the bronchus is surgically reattached to the healthy lobe or lobes.
• Segmentectomy: Each lobe consists of 2 to 5 segments. Up to four of these segments may be surgically removed depending on the lobe, with the remaining healthy segments preserved.
• Wedge resection: As the name implies, this is the surgical removal of a wedge-shaped section of the affected lung. The rest of the lung is preserved.
• Pneumonectomy: This is the surgical removal of the entire affected lung.

Future treatments for lung cancer

While early detection, such as lung cancer screenings, has improved patient outcomes, so too have future treatment options. Here are some new and evolving therapies that are poised to improve the outlook of lung cancer cases:

• Checkpoint inhibitors: A type of immunotherapy, this medication is often given during the early stages of lung cancer treatment. Some patients may have chemotherapy at the same time, depending on their doctor’s recommendations. The inhibitors help shrink tumor size and reduce the risk of recurrence after surgery.
• Lung cancer vaccines: Clinical trials are being conducted to create personalized vaccines that target an individual’s specific cancer cell mutations. These are developed from tumor samples that have been surgically removed, helping to lower the risk of the cancer recurring.
• TIL therapy: Also a form of immunotherapy, this involves taking a variation of white blood cells called “tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes” from the patient’s tumor. These cells are grown in a laboratory until they reach large quantities, at which point they are infused back into the patient. The TIL cells can then find and kill the cancer cells more effectively.

Getting your results

Turnaround times for imaging results can vary widely depending on the facility and your doctor’s availability. Often, patients wait a week or more and receive their results during a follow-up appointment. With PocketHealth, you don’t have to wait as long—your results are securely accessible as soon as the report is available, allowing you to review them often before your follow-up visit.

Your imaging results are interpreted by a radiologist—an expert in medical imaging—who carefully reviews your scans and provides a detailed report of any findings. This report is then sent to your referring doctor, who, with a deeper understanding of your medical history, can offer further insights and recommendations.

To better understand your imaging reports, Report Reader provides clear, straightforward definitions for medical terms. Simply tap or click on any underlined words to reveal their meaning. This is paired with illustrations and highlights of anatomy in your imaging to help you better understand your results and prepare for follow-up appointments.

Frequently asked questions

Here are some common questions regarding lung cancer.

Who is at higher risk for developing lung cancer?

According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), the following may be possible risk factors for developing lung cancer:

• Smoking: This is the biggest risk factor, as cigarettes and other tobacco products are linked to 80 to 90% of cancer deaths. Patients who smoke increase their chances of getting lung cancer by up to 30 times more than patients who don’t. Fortunately, quitting cigarettes can reduce the patient’s lung cancer risk.
• Secondhand smoke: Being around others while they are smoking can increase lung cancer risk even for non-smoking patients. This risk can increase by 20 to 30% due to secondhand exposure to the chemicals and carcinogens found in cigarettes.
• Radon exposure: Radon is a gas that is found in water, rocks and soil and has no odor or taste. Sometimes this gas can enter buildings and homes, building up inside, especially on lower levels such as basements, where cracks in the foundation can expose the house to radon. Breathing this gas over time can raise the risk of lung cancer. Fortunately, there are services that can test and mitigate radon in your home or building.
• Other substances: Exposure to other substances such as asbestos, arsenic, diesel exhaust and pollutants can increase risk.
• Previous chest radiation: Patients who have had previous chest radiation exposure (such as for treatment purposes) may have an increased risk.
• Family (or personal) history of lung cancer: These factors can increase the risk of lung cancer. However, for patients whose family contracted lung cancer due to smoking, there may not necessarily be a genetic component.

What are the symptoms of lung cancer?

Some possible symptoms of lung cancer may include:

• Unintentional weight loss
• Pain in the chest
• Fatigue
• Wheezing, hoarse voice and shortness of breath
• Coughing up blood
• Chronic cough
• Recurrent bronchitis, pneumonia or similar conditions
• Back pain (for more advanced cases)
• Swollen lymph nodes

It is important to remember that experiencing these symptoms does not necessarily mean you have lung cancer. There are numerous benign conditions with similar symptoms. It is recommended that you see a physician for personalized advice, possible testing and next steps to determine the cause of your symptoms.

How quickly does lung cancer spread?

Small cell lung cancer tends to spread faster than non-small cell lung cancer. However, every person and every cancer case is different. There can be a lot of variation in “doubling times,” which is how fast cancer cells double in number. Some cases double in months, while others take much longer. Typically, the faster the cells double, the more aggressive the case is. Your doctor will likely take this into account when planning treatment approaches, but it can be helpful to have them address any questions you may have.

How long does it take to recover from lung cancer?

Lung cancer recovery depends on how early the disease was caught, what kind of surgery was performed (if any), the patient’s health history and other such factors. Some patients are able to undergo treatment and recovery in a matter of months, whereas other cases may take years of various treatments. Thankfully, therapies continue to improve as doctors learn more about the disease. Patients should ask their doctor for specifics about their individual case, so they can get the most accurate recovery estimate for their health.

Getting support

A lung cancer diagnosis can feel overwhelming regardless of the stage or type. Just remember you’re not alone. There are several support groups and resources available to help you navigate treatment and beyond. The first course may be asking your doctor for local resources such as ride services or in-person support groups. Here are some online organizations with various education or support resources:

• American Lung Association
• Lung Cancer Research Foundation
• Cancer Care
• Lung Cancer Canada

Take control of your health journey

PocketHealth makes it simple to keep track of your lung scans. All of your vital imaging is in one secure location and can be accessed online anytime. Reports can also be easily shared with other physicians in your care team, if needed. Additionally, it makes it easy to track health changes over time, such as with repeat imaging. When used in conjunction with your medical provider’s professional advice, it is a powerful tool for organizing and understanding your imaging results and your health.

PocketHealth MyCare Navigator gives personalized insights into your health and identifies any recommended follow-up steps. This feature can also generate individualized questions to ask your doctor based on the findings in your report, ensuring you make the most of your consultation. A lung cancer diagnosis may feel overwhelming, but working closely with your providers can give you the best chance of managing your condition and protecting your health.

Published: June 4, 2025