Knowledge centre
Lung cancer
Lung cancer is strongly linked to smoking, but it also occurs in people who have never smoked. Persistent chest symptoms should not be written off as a long cold.
Risk factors
- Current or past smoking
- Second-hand smoke
- Indoor smoke from cooking fires, and outdoor air pollution
- Some workplace dusts and fumes, including asbestos
- A family history in some people
Prevention
- Do not start smoking. If you smoke, stopping helps at any age
- Keep homes free of tobacco smoke
- Use cleaner cooking methods where smoke is heavy
- Use workplace protection when dusts and fumes are part of the job
Early signs
- A cough that lasts more than three weeks, or a change in a smoker’s cough
- Coughing blood
- Chest pain, breathlessness, or repeated chest infections
- Unexplained weight loss, tiredness, or a hoarse voice
Screening
India does not run a universal CT screening programme for everyone. People with a heavy smoking history should ask a clinician whether low-dose CT is relevant for them.
A chest symptom that persists needs a clinical visit. A normal cough syrup trial is not a substitute for that visit.
Treatment overview
Care depends on the cell type, molecular tests, and stage. Options can include surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted tablets. Molecular testing is part of modern planning for many patients.
Survivorship
Breathlessness, fatigue, and anxiety are common after treatment. Pulmonary rehabilitation, stopping smoking, and palliative care when needed all belong in the plan.