Lung cancer

Lung cancer is among the most common cancer types in Norway and the cancer that takes most lives. In 2006 there were 1369 and 953 new cases in men and women respectively. The incidence is increasing in women however, for men it has been almost unchanged the past years.

Most lung cancer cases can be prevented. Smoking causes almost 85 per cent of the cases. Other risk factors are having been exposed to nickel-, chrome-, cadmium-, arsenic- and asbestos compounds. Radon in indoor air contributes to about 10 per cent.

Typical symptoms of lung cancer are coughing, blood in the expectorate, difficulty breathing, chest pain and tiredness. In advanced cases one sees weight loss and hoarseness. Treatment is surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

The prognosis is poor; all told only about 10 per cent are alive after five years. Only an operation can cure lung cancer, and for the 18-20 per cent of the patients who can be operated upon, the prognosis is far better. 50 per cent of these are alive after five years. The reason that relatively few can be operated upon is that the illness is too advanced; due to a late diagnosis.