Summary
Lung cancer causes more cancer-related deaths in the United States than the next four causes of cancer-related mortality combined.
The most important and easily modifiable risk factor for lung cancer is cigarette smoking.
Symptoms are often absent until lung cancer has advanced; thus, only 15% of lung cancer patients live for 5 years after their diagnosis.
The histologic subtype, molecular markers, stage of lung cancer and the patient's performance status guide treatment decisions and influence the prognosis.
Surgery is the treatment of choice for early stage non–small cell lung cancer. Chemotherapy is the modality of choice for advanced non–small cell lung cancer. Chemotherapy with or without radiation therapy is used to treat small cell lung cancer.