Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide and is responsible for the highest mortality rates amongst men and women. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC) are the two most common types of lung cancer, with NSCLC being more common and growing slowly, and SCLC being less common but often growing rapidly. The primary risk factor for developing lung cancer is smoking tobacco (85% of all cases), but also non-smokers are affected due to other factors such as air pollution, secondhand smoke, hereditary cancer syndromes, and others.
Adenocarcinoma in the lung occurs due to an abnormal cell growth in the lungs and comes along with symptoms such as coughing, chest pain, shortness of breath, coughing up blood and more that cause severe harm, ultimately resulting in death if untreated.
Lung cancer is diagnosed by physical examination, imaging, bronchoscopy, tissue biopsy, as well as molecular testing for specific genetic mutations and analyses of lung cancer-specific biomarkers.
Treatment of lung cancer depends on the type of cancer, its progression and the patient’s clinical history. While early detection can help to improve the outcome, therapy options range from surgeries, radiation and chemotherapy to novel approaches such as targeted therapies or immunotherapy.