Lung cancer is the second fastest growing type of cancer in the world, surpassed only by the number of skin cancer cases. Oncology considers that there are three main types of lung cancer:

1 - Non-small cell lung carcinoma: This is the most common type of lung cancer, accounting for approximately 85% of cases and one of its characteristics is that it does not spread quickly. There are three subtypes: adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and large cell carcinoma.
2 - Small cell carcinoma: It accounts for around 20% of lung cancer cases. It is a more aggressive type that spreads rapidly.
3 - Carcinoid lung tumor: A rarer type, it is identified in around 5% of registered cancers. They are also called neuroendocrine tumors, grow slowly and rarely spread to other organs.

The main factor responsible for the appearance of lung cancer is still smoking, whether active or passive. Early detection is the determining factor for successful treatment of this disease. The biggest problem is that lung cancer is asymptomatic most of the time and when symptoms do appear, they can be mistaken for other diseases.

The main symptoms of lung cancer are:

  Persistent cough, with or without the presence of blood
  Chest pain that worsens with deep breathing, laughing, or coughing
  Hoarseness
  Shortness of breath and fatigue
  Loss of appetite and weight loss
  Repeated episodes of pneumonia and bronchitis, or persistent cases of these diseases