The cancer that starts in the lungs wherein the lung tissues grow uncontrollably and lead to tumors is known as lung cancer.

Risk factors for lung cancer

• Smoking: Cigarette smoking is the biggest risk factor for lung cancer. It is responsible for 85 percent of all lung cancers. Consuming all forms of tobacco products, including bidis, hukkah (water pipe), pipes, cigars, and chewing tobacco, are major risk factors for cancers of the mouth, throat and lungs.
• Environmental factors: Exposure to harmful environmental agents like second hand tobacco smoke, asbestos, arsenic and radiation also increases the risk of lung cancer.
• Genetic or hereditary factors: People whose parents, sibling or close relatives who have lung cancer are at a higher risk of developing lung cancer themselves.

Symptoms of Lung Cancer

The common symptoms of lung cancer can be confused with other ailments. The most common symptoms include:

• Cough for more than three weeks (either a new cough or a change in a chronic cough; this can be dry or with phlegm).
• Shortness of breath or wheezing
• Hoarseness of voice
• Chest pain (can be both dull or sharp)
• Arm, shoulder and neck pain (could be caused by a tumor at the top of the lungs )

Treatment
If symptoms of lung cancer persist, one needs to get a complete physical examination and a chest X-ray done. To confirm the diagnosis, a biopsy might be needed. The treatment would depend on the type and stage of the lung cancer.