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Learning About Lung Cancer

Parts of the lung Parts of the lung
  • Lymph nodes
  • Trachea
  • Bronchi
  • Lobes

What are the parts of the lung?

The lungs are the organs in your chest that help you breathe. They are shaped like cones and come in a pair. Each lung has sections called lobes. The left lung has 2 lobes. The right lung is a little bigger than the left lung. It has 3 lobes. When you breathe, air goes into your mouth and down your windpipe, called the trachea. The trachea then divides into 2 tubes, called bronchi. One tube goes to each lung.

To the right are examples of organizations and resources you may find helpful. Click on the links to visit those websites and learn more.


How common is lung cancer?

Lung cancer can happen to smokers, to ex-smokers, and to people who have never smoked. In 2010, it was expected that more than 220,000 people in the United States would be diagnosed with lung cancer. Ask your healthcare provider about your risk for lung cancer.

To the right are examples of organizations and resources you may find helpful. Click on the links to visit those websites and learn more.


What are the types of lung cancer?

The 2 most common types of lung cancer are small cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer. Small cell lung cancer is not as common as non-small cell lung cancer but tends to spread quickly. Most cases of lung cancer are non-small cell lung cancer, which tends to spread more slowly than small cell lung cancer.

To the right are examples of organizations and resources you may find helpful. Click on the links to visit those websites and learn more.

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