Lung cancer affects the lungs and airways connected to the lungs. There are two main types of primary lung cancer, which behave and respond to treatment differently:
- small cell lung cancer (SCLC)
- non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)
A less common type of lung cancer is called mesothelioma. This type of cancer affects the membrane which covers the surface of the lungs and lines the inside of the chest. It occurs in people who have been exposed to asbestos.
Lung cancer can start in the lungs (primary lung cancer) and can also spread to other areas of the body (secondary tumour or metastasis).