Lung Cancer

Lung Cancer - What it is

What is lung cancer?

Lung Cancer Condition and Treatments - Diagram of Lungs

Lung cancer is a disease that begins in the lungs. Lungs are part of the respiratory system that works together to help you breathe. The respiratory system’s main function is to move fresh air into your body while removing waste gases. Lung cancer occurs when there is an uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in the lung which can interfere with normal lung function. The abnormal cells can pass from the original part of the lung to other parts of the body, such as the opposite lung, our lymph nodes, bones, liver and more.

Types of lung cancer

There are two main types of lung cancer:

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC): NSCLC accounts for approximately 85% of all lung cancers and arises from a type of cell that lines the surface of organs (epithelial cells). Types of NSCLC include adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and large cell carcinoma.
Small cell lung cancer (SCLC): SCLC accounts for 15% of all lung cancers and is strongly associated with cigarette smoking. It grows and spreads quickly to other parts of the body, including the lymph nodes.

Lung Cancer - Prevalence

According to the Singapore Cancer Registry, over a five-year period, from 2018 to 2022, approximately 9,000 cases of lung cancer were diagnosed in Singapore. Lung cancer is the second most common cancer in men and third most common in women. Furthermore, it is the leading cause of cancer death in men and second leading cause of cancer death in women. Lung cancer is more commonly diagnosed in individuals above 40 years old, however, the disease can occur in younger individuals.