Lung cancer

Lung cancer is a malignant tumour (cancer) that happens in the tissue of one or both lungs. We use our lungs to breathe in air that is then passed into our bloodstream and breathe out (exhale) the waste gas called carbon dioxide that needs to leave our body

The lungs are like two sponges inside your chest, one on the left and one on the right. Lung cancers happen when cells in the lung tissue or lining experience abnormal growth. They then multiply and turn into a tumour. We call a cancer that starts in the cells lining an organ a ‘carcinoma.’ There are two main groups of lung cancers, and each group stands for the type of cell(s) that make up the tumour. The two groups of lung cancers have different types of linked carcinomas (diseases). The two main groups are non-small cell carcinomas – these make up about 16 out of every 20 lung cancers – and Small cell carcinomas – these make up three out of every 20 lung cancers.

We offer expert care for several different lung diseases including Malignant mesothelioma; Non-small cell carcinomas (lung); Small cell carcinomas (lung); Thymoma and thymic carcinoma; and Metastatic cancer involving the lung. Please talk with your GP if you need a referral to access our services.