Lung cancer

If you’re affected by lung cancer, you may have many questions about how it is diagnosed, treatment options, side effects and how to stay well. You can find trustworthy information about all aspects of your experience below.

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What is lung cancer?

Get an overview of lung cancer, what causes it and who gets it.

Symptoms

Learn about the common symptoms of lung cancer and when to see your doctor.

For your community

For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

Getting diagnosed

Find out about the tests for lung cancer, how it is diagnosed and staged, and who will provide your care.

Treating lung cancer

Treatment for lung cancer may include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy or immunotherapy.

Managing symptoms

Learn how to manage common symptoms of lung cancer such as breathlessness, pain and appetite loss.

Living with lung cancer

Learn about follow-up care, what happens if the cancer returns after treatment or doesn’t go away, and how to look after your physical and mental health.

Questions for your doctorAsking your doctor questions will help you make an informed choice. You may want to include some of the questions below in your own list.

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Diagnosis

What type of lung cancer do I have?
Has the cancer spread? If so, where has it spread? How fast is it growing?
Are the latest tests and treatments for this cancer available in this hospital?
Will a multidisciplinary team be involved in my care?
Are there clinical guidelines for this type of cancer?

Treatment

What treatment do you recommend? What is the aim of the treatment?
Are there other treatment choices for me? If not, why not?
If I don’t have the treatment, what should I expect?
How long do I have to make a decision?
I’m thinking of getting a second opinion. Can you recommend anyone?
How long will treatment take? Will I have to stay in hospital?
Are there any out-of-pocket expenses not covered by Medicare or my private health cover? Can the cost be reduced if I can’t afford it?
How will we know if the treatment is working?
Are there any clinical trials or research studies I could join?
Can I stop the treatment after I have started?

Side effects

What are the risks and possible side effects of each treatment?
I often feel breathless. Who can help me with that?
Will I have a lot of pain? What will be done about this?
Can I work, drive and do my normal activities while having treatment?
Will the treatment affect my sexual activities and fertility?
Are there any complementary therapies that might help me?

After treatment

How often will I need check-ups after treatment?
If the cancer returns, how will I know? What treatments could I have?

The information here is about primary lung cancer only. When cancer starts in another part of the body and spreads to the lungs, it is called secondary or metastatic cancer in the lung. Read about managing advanced cancer.

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