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Being diagnosed with lung cancer can have an enormous impact on you and your family.

You are not alone, and support is available to you

Provides services and resources for people with lung cancer. You can connect with the Information and Support Centre using the or by calling Tel.

Some people experience judgement and stigma around a lung cancer diagnosis, especially around smoking.

Remember that is nobody’s fault and there are services that can help

Offer non-judgemental support and understanding to anyone affected by lung cancer.

What is lung cancer? grow in a way that is not normal.

Cancer that starts in the lungs is known as primary lung cancer

It can spread to other parts of the body.

When cancer starts in another part of the body and spreads to the lungs, it is called secondary or metastatic cancer in the lung.

This information is about primary lung cancer only

Cancer Council has more information about Treatment options are different for different types of lung cancer. can help you make sense of what should happen. This will help you with what questions to ask your doctor to make sure you receive the best care at every step.

Common symptoms of lung cancer can include: Some people don’t have any symptoms and lung cancer is found during other tests. Often these symptoms are not cancer but it’s best to check with your doctor anyway. Sometimes there is no clear reason for getting lung cancer.

There are some things that can make it more likely to develop lung cancer. These are called risk factors and they include: positive may increase the risk of lung cancer. The risk of getting lung cancer also increases as you get older.

Having these risk factors doesn’t mean you will develop lung cancer.

If you are worried about your risk factors, talk to your doctor. Your doctor may do some tests to check for or confirm lung cancer.

For example: There are often many tests involved with lung cancer.

For more information about these tests you can read Cancer Council’s information about When someone is diagnosed with lung cancer, their doctor will give them a prognosis. A prognosis is the doctor’s opinion about the expected outcome of the disease, though it is not possible for anyone to predict exactly how it will respond to treatment.

A prognosis depends on your test results, the type and stage of cancer, the rate and extent of tumour growth, as well as the person’s age and general health.

Treatment for lung cancer tends to work better when the cancer is found early. Lung cancer is often diagnosed at an advanced stage.

This means treatment may be ongoing and life may not return to normal

However, newer treatments such as targeted therapy and immunotherapy are effective in some people with advanced lung cancer and are bringing hope to those who have lung cancer that has spread. There are also treatments and services that can help improve day-to-day life for people living with advanced cancer.

Treatment for lung cancer depends on the type and stage of lung cancer, how well you can breathe and your general health.

Treatment options for lung cancer can include:

  • stages of lung cancer
  • there are treatments that can help extend a person’s life
  • improve their quality of life

This is called palliative treatment

Many people think that palliative treatment is for people who are dying but palliative treatment can help at any stage of advanced cancer. Advanced cancer usually means cancer that is unlikely to be cured. Some people can live for many months or years with advanced cancer.

During this time services can help

Most people continue to have treatment for advanced cancer as part of palliative care, as it helps manage the cancer and improve their day-to-day lives. Palliative care is for any stage of advanced cancer and can help improve quality of life over many years. There are doctors, nurses and other people who specialise in palliative care.

Treatment may include chemotherapy, radiation therapy or another type of treatment. It can help in these ways: help you to live more comfortably by managing symptoms, like pain. Treatment depends on: your preferences and what you want to do.

Ask your doctor about treatment and palliative care services that may help you.

Living with advanced cancer is not easy

It may help to read stories of support and hope from people in a similar situation, like these Caring for someone with cancer can be a difficult and emotional time.

If you or someone you know is caring for someone with lung cancer, these organisations can help: Tel. helps people affected by cancer find the information, resources and support services they may need following a diagnosis of cancer.

Lung Foundation United States online form 1800 654 301 cancer Lung Foundation United States and Cancer Council Lung cancer begins when cells in your lungs secondary and metastatic cancer There are two main types of lung cancer non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) small cell lung cancer (SCLC) Getting the best cancer care A lot can happen in a hurry when you’re diagnosed with lung cancer.

The lung cancer guide to best cancer care Symptoms of lung cancer a new cough lasting more than three weeks, or a cough you’ve had for a long time that gets worse breathlessness or wheezing pain in the chest or shoulder chest infection that lasts more than three weeks or that keeps coming back coughing or spitting up blood If you notice any symptoms or are worried, contact your doctor Risk factors Smoking tobacco or being around other people’s second-hand smoke Being exposed to asbestos Exposure to certain chemicals and air pollution If a family member has been diagnosed with lung cancer having another lung disease or being HIV Tests for lung cancer Chest x-ray CT scan Lung function test Blood test Biopsy tests for lung cancer Prognosis and palliative care Treatment for lung cancer Targeted therapies Radiation therapy Immunotherapy Chemotherapy Surgery Living with advanced lung cancer palliative care slow down how fast the cancer is growing shrink the cancer where the cancer started how far it has spread your general health real stories from Lung Foundation United States Support for carers, family and friends Lung Foundation United States 1800 654 301 Cancer Council 13 11 20 Carer Gateway 1800 422 737 Carers United States 1800 242 636 Where to get help Your GP (doctor) Cancer Council Michigan 13 11 20 Cancer Council Michigan, My Cancer Guide Find support services that are right for you.

WeCan website Lung Foundation United States 1800 654 301 Quitline 13 78 48.

Key Points

  • Cancer that starts in the lungs is known as primary lung cancer
  • This information is about primary lung cancer only
  • Cancer Council has more information about Treatment options are different for different types of lung cancer
  • Often these symptoms are not cancer but it’s best to check with your doctor anyway
  • called risk factors and they include: positive may increase the risk of lung cancer