Sunday, November 15, 2026
Although lung cancer is the third most common cancer in the United States, it remains the nation’s leading cause of cancer-related deaths. November marks Lung Cancer Awareness Month, an opportunity to further learn about the disease and its risk factors. In October, than 1,000 Long Islanders gathered at Eisenhower Park for the American Lung Association’s 2026 LUNG FORCE walk, raising $160,000 to support lung cancer research and patient programs. Additional donations are being accepted through Nov. 30 at LUNGFORCE.org/longisland.
Lung cancer often shows no noticeable symptoms until it has reached an advanced stage. Common symptoms include a persistent or worsening cough, coughing up blood, shortness of breath, chest pain, hoarseness, and unexplained weight loss and fatigue. Some patients may develop Horner’s syndrome, which causes a small pupil, drooping eyelid and reduced sweating on one side of the face. Because symptoms may not appear early, screening is especially important for those at higher risk.
Smoking is the leading risk factor for lung cancer, accounting for about 80% of lung cancer deaths. However, lung cancer can also develop in people who have never smoked. Other risk factors include exposure to secondhand smoke, radon, asbestos, certain metals and air pollution. Quitting smoking reduces the risk of developing lung cancer, and it is never too late to stop.
Lung cancer is classified by how large the tumor is and how far the disease has spread. Non-small cell lung cancer, the most common type, has five stages. Stage 0 involves abnormal cells lining the airways, while in Stage I, cancer cells are generally confined to the lung. In Stage II, the tumor may have spread to nearby lymph nodes or tissues. In Stage III, the tumor is larger than 5 cm and involves more extensive spread within the chest. Stage IV indicates the cancer has spread to the other lung, the lining of the lungs, fluid around the lungs or heart or other parts of the body.
Small cell lung cancer, a less common but faster-growing form of the disease, is classified into two stages: limited and extensive. In the limited stage, cancer is generally confined to one side of the chest and nearby lymph nodes. In the extensive stage, it has spread beyond that area. Determining the stage can help doctors determine the disease’s progression and develop and appropriate treatment plan.
Lung cancer treatment depends on the type and stage of the disease, genetic changes in the tumor and the patient’s overall health. Surgery may be an option for early-stage cancer and involves removing the tumor or affected lung tissue. Other treatments include radiation therapy, which uses high-energy rays to destroy cancer cells, and chemotherapy, which uses medication to kill cancer cells or slow their growth.
Additional options include targeted therapy, which attacks specific changes in cancer cells, and immunotherapy, which helps the immune system recognize and fight the cancer. Some patients receive a combination of treatments, depending on the disease’s progression. Treatment plans aim to remove or control the cancer, slow its spread and manage symptoms.
