--- title: "Lung cancer: Symptoms, Causes & Treatment | HealthAnswers" description: "Lung cancer — symptoms, who should seek chest X-ray, diagnosis, staging, and NHS treatment including surgery and immunotherapy." url: https://healthanswers.co.uk/conditions/lung-cancer/ robots: noindex --- # Lung cancer: Symptoms, Causes & Treatment | HealthAnswers Health A–Z Lung cancer — symptoms, who should seek chest X-ray, diagnosis, staging, and NHS treatment including surgery and immunotherapy. Written by HealthAnswers editorial team Medically reviewed by [HealthAnswers UK doctor review panel](https://healthanswers.co.uk/our-doctors/) Reviewed 3 July 2026 ## Quick answer What is lung cancer? Lung cancer is one of the most common cancers in the UK — strongly linked to smoking but also affects never-smokers. Red flag symptoms include persistent cough over 3 weeks, coughing blood, breathlessness, chest pain, weight loss, and repeated chest infections. Chest X-ray is first investigation — CT and biopsy confirm. Treatment depends on type (small cell vs non-small cell) and stage — surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, targeted drugs, and immunotherapy. See a GP urgently for coughing blood or persistent new cough if you smoke or smoked. ## Who is this page for? This page is for people in the UK who want a plain-English overview of Lung cancer, including when to seek help and what NHS care usually involves. It explains general information, not what is wrong with you personally. ## Who should skip this page? Skip this page if you need a diagnosis, a prescription, or emergency care. It cannot replace a GP, pharmacist, NHS 111 or 999. If you are in immediate danger, call 999; for urgent advice that is not life-threatening, call 111 in England, Scotland or Wales, or use your GP out-of-hours service in Northern Ireland. On this page 7 sections ## Key facts about lung cancer - About 85% of lung cancers in UK linked to tobacco — quitting reduces risk but former smokers remain at elevated risk for years. - Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is most common — small cell lung cancer spreads faster and treated differently. - Targeted lung cancer screening with low-dose CT offered to high-risk smokers in England pilot areas — not universal yet. - Persistent cough over 3 weeks with smoking history warrants chest X-ray — NICE guidance. - Never-smokers can develop lung cancer — often adenocarcinoma with targetable mutations. ## Lung cancer — symptoms and survival in the modern era **Lung cancer** is the **third most common cancer** in the UK and **leading cause of cancer death** — **~48,000 cases yearly**. **Smoking causes most cases** — but **never-smokers** develop lung cancer too — often **different biology** with **targetable mutations**. **Survival improving** — **immunotherapy** and **molecular targeted drugs** transformed **advanced NSCLC** — **early detection** still best cure chance. ## Symptoms — see GP **NICE referral criteria include:** - haemoptysis — any amount — urgent CXR - chest X-ray for ≥3 week cough in smokers/ex-smokers - persistent/recurrent chest infection - weight loss , chest pain , hoarseness - clubbing , supraclavicular lymph node **Advanced:** - bone pain - brain metastases — headache, seizures - SVCO — facial swelling, distended veins - pleural effusion — breathlessness ## Types ### Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) — ~85% - adenocarcinoma — outer lung, never-smokers common - squamous cell carcinoma — central, smoking-linked - large cell ### Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) — ~15% - rapid growth , early spread - chemoradiotherapy sensitive — limited vs extensive stage - prophylactic cranial irradiation selected limited stage ## Diagnosis pathway - Chest X-ray - CT thorax — staging scan - Biopsy — histology mandatory - Molecular profiling — EGFR, ALK, ROS1, BRAF, PD-L1 , KRAS - PET-CT — metastasis search - MDT — treatment plan ## Treatment overview **Early NSCLC:** - lobectomy — video-assisted thoracoscopic (VATS) - stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR) — inoperable early **Locally advanced:** - chemoradiotherapy - immunotherapy consolidation — durvalumab post-chemorRT **Advanced/metastatic NSCLC:** - pembrolizumab monotherapy if PD-L1 high - chemo-immunotherapy combinations - osimertinib — EGFR mutation - alectinib — ALK - supportive care — breathlessness clinics **SCLC:** - platinum-etoposide — extensive stage + atezolizumab/durvalumab ## Prevention - stop smoking — risk falls but never to never-smoker level fully - avoid asbestos — occupational - radon — home testing high-risk areas ## Lung cancer vs COPD Both cause **breathlessness and cough** — **new haemoptysis or weight loss** — **cancer until excluded** — see [COPD](https://healthanswers.co.uk/conditions/copd/) for chronic airflow limitation distinction. **3-week cough + smoking history** — **CXR same week** — **not repeat antibiotics alone**. ## ! When to see a GP about lung cancer See a GP within 2 weeks for cough lasting over 3 weeks, coughing blood (any amount), persistent breathlessness, chest pain, unexplained weight loss, or hoarse voice — especially if you smoke or ever smoked. Same-day if large volume haemoptysis. NHS Targeted Lung Health Checks in some areas invite 55–74 year smokers — attend if invited. ## Common questions about lung cancer What are the early signs of lung cancer? Persistent cough — new or changed — over 3 weeks, coughing blood, breathlessness, chest or shoulder pain, repeated chest infections, fatigue, weight loss, loss of appetite, hoarse voice, finger clubbing. Early stage may have no symptoms — reason screening pilots exist for high-risk groups. Can non-smokers get lung cancer? Yes — roughly 10 to 15% of cases — often adenocarcinoma in outer lung. Radon gas, occupational asbestos exposure, air pollution, and genetic factors contribute. Never assume immunity because you never smoked. How is lung cancer diagnosed? Chest X-ray first — CT chest with contrast if suspicious. PET-CT for staging. Biopsy — bronchoscopy, CT-guided needle, or EBUS for lymph nodes — confirms histology and molecular testing (EGFR, ALK, PD-L1). Staging determines treatment — I to IV. Is lung cancer curable? Stage I to II NSCLC — surgery or stereotactic radiotherapy can cure selected patients. Advanced stage — not usually curable but immunotherapy (pembrolizumab) and targeted drugs (osimertinib for EGFR) extend survival significantly compared to chemotherapy alone. Small cell — chemoradiotherapy sensitive but often relapses. Should I get screened for lung cancer? If invited to NHS Targeted Lung Health Check (current or ex-smokers 55–74 in pilot areas) — attend. No universal UK screening yet outside programmes. Discuss with GP if high risk — heavy smoking history, asbestos exposure. ## Sources - [NHS — Lung cancer](https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/lung-cancer/) - [NICE — Lung cancer diagnosis and management](https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng122) - [Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation](https://roycastle.org/)