What Is Lung Cancer?

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What is lung cancer?

Lung cancer is a disease in which malignant (or dangerous) cells form in the tissue of the lungs. As more of these cells are produced, they can form into a tumor and spread to the surrounding body tissue, lymph nodes, and bloodstream.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths for both men and women and the second most common cancer in the United States. More than 222,000 new cases of lung cancer are diagnosed each year in the U.S., and more than 155,000 people die from the disease annually. There are two main types of lung cancer: non-small cell and small cell lung cancer. Although smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer, other risk factors include a family history of the disease and exposure to radiation, asbestos, and arsenic.

COVID-19 Secondhand Smoke , Cropped Hand Of Woman Holding Cigarette Credit: Getty Images