cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma and large cell 
carcinoma. Squamous cell carcinoma is the most 
common type of NSCLC and develops from cells 
that line the airways. It usually starts near the 
centre of the chest and is the lung cancer most 
closely associated with smoking (CRUK 2013). 
Adenocarcinoma develops in mucus-producing 
cells, which also line the airways, although it 
tends to start peripherally in the lungs. This type 
of cancer is most frequently seen in non-smokers 
(CRUK 2013).
Although survival and quality of life are 
significantly affected by lung cancer, new 
diagnostic, surgical and oncological treatments 
are being introduced, giving more patients 
the opportunity to be treated with potentially 
curative therapies. Nurses in the community 
and acute setting have an important role 
in promoting awareness of the signs and 
symptoms of lung cancer among the public, 
prompting early referral to specialist services 
when lung cancer is suspected, and providing 
support and symptom management to improve 
patients’ quality of life and experience of care.
choice and prognosis. The two main types of 
lung cancer are: non-small cell lung cancer 
(NSCLC), accounting for approximately 85% 
of lung cancer diagnoses (Leighl 2012), and 
small cell lung cancer (SCLC), accounting for the 
remaining 15% of lung cancer diagnoses (CRUK 
2013). NSCLC is further divided into squamous