1. Lung Cancer Slideshow Pictures
2. Effects of Secondhand Smoke Slideshow Pictures
3. Tips to Quit Smoking Slideshow Pictures

Medical Author:

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.

View Full Profile

Medical Editor:

Jay W. Marks, MD

Jay W. Marks, MD

Jay W. Marks, MD, is a board-certified internist and gastroenterologist. He graduated from Yale University School of Medicine and trained in internal medicine and gastroenterology at UCLA/Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.

View Full Profile

In this Article

• Lung cancer facts
• What is lung cancer?
• How common is lung cancer?
• What causes lung cancer?
• What are the types of lung cancer?
• What are lung cancer symptoms and signs?
• How is lung cancer diagnosed?
• What is staging of lung cancer?
• What is the treatment for lung cancer?
• What is the prognosis (outcome) of lung cancer?
• How can lung cancer be prevented?
• Patient Comments: Lung Cancer - Symptoms
• Patient Comments: Lung Cancer - Stages
• Patient Comments: Lung Cancer - Describe Your Experience
• Patient Comments: Lung Cancer - Treatments
• Find a local Oncologist in your town
• Lung Cancer Index

Cessation of smoking and eliminating exposure to tobacco smoke is the most important measure that can prevent lung cancer. Many products, such as nicotine gum, nicotine sprays, or nicotine inhalers, may be helpful to people trying to quit smoking. Minimizing exposure to passive smoking also is an effective preventive measure. Using a home radon test kit can identify and allow correction of increased radon levels in the home. Methods that allow early detection of cancers, such as the helical low-dose CT scan, also may be of value in the identification of small cancers that can be cured by surgical resection and prevented from becoming widespread, incurable, metastatic cancer.

Additional resources from WebMD Boots UK on Lung Cancer

REFERENCES:

Hung, R.J., et al. A Susceptibility Locus for Lung Cancer Maps to Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Subunit Genes on 15q25." Nature 452.7187 Apr. 3, 2008: 633-637.

McKeage, Mark J., et al. "Phase II Study of ASA404 (vadimezan, 5,6-dimethylxanthenone-4-acetic acid/DMXAA) 1800 mg/m2 Combined With Carboplatin and Paclitaxel in Previously Untreated Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer." Lung Cancer 65.2 Aug. 2009: 192-197.

United States. National Cancer Institute (NCI). "Lung Cancer." July 26, 2007. <http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/lung>.

"What Are the Key Statistics About Lung Cancer?" American Cancer Society. Oct. 20, 2009. <http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_1x_What_Are_the_Key_Statistics_About _Lung_Cancer_15.asp?sitearea=>.

"What You Need to Know About Lung Cancer." National Cancer Institute, U.S. National Institutes of Health. July 26, 2007. <http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/lung>.