Disease of the Week – Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the United States. Cigarette smoking is the #1 cause of lung cancer, but it also can be caused by using other forms of tobacco like pipes or cigars, breathing secondhand smoke, being exposed to asbestos or radon, and having a family history of lung cancer. Lung cancer symptoms may include coughing that gets worse or doesn’t go away, chest pain, shortness of breath, wheezing, and coughing up blood. Other illnesses can cause these symptoms, too. If you have any symptoms, talk to your doctor. For help to quit smoking, call 1 (800) QUIT-NOW, text “QUIT” to 47848 from your cell phone, or visit cdc.gov/quit.