Lung Cancer

Overview: There are many types of lung cancer, but all of them can involve the lymph nodes in the middle of the chest. This disease remains the No. 1 cause of cancer death in the United States and across the world. Lung cancer is a serious disease, but in its early stages some patients can be cured.

Causes: Smoking is the single biggest cause of lung cancer. Less common causes include exposure to radon gas and asbestos.

Symptoms: Cough, chest pain, and shortness of breath are the most common symptoms of lung cancer.

Treatment: Like many cancers, treatment of lung cancer is different depending on which parts of the body are involved. In some cases, doctors perform surgery, which may be followed by chemotherapy or radiation therapy, or both. In other cases, surgery is not performed and doctors recommend radiation therapy, or a combination of radiation therapy and chemotherapy. In many cases, doctors treat with chemotherapy or targeted radiation therapy alone.

Risk of Radiation Cardiotoxicity: Radiation therapy is frequently used in lung cancer. Lung cancers in the central lungs or in the lymph nodes at the center of the chest are close to the heart. Therefore, radiation therapy to these areas can also affect the heart.