How to Live With Lung Cancer

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By eHow Contributing Writer

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Abnormal cell growth that is centered on or in the lungs may be lung cancer. Being diagnosed with lung cancer can be devastating for both the patient and his or her family. However, a diagnosis of lung cancer isn't necessarily a death sentence. There are several treatment options available and a wealth of resources both online and offline designed to teach you how to live with lung cancer.

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Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

Step 1

Get the facts about lung cancer. The National Cancer Institute estimates nearly 180,000 new cases of lung cancer will be diagnosed every year. The majority of these cases are directly related to smoking.
Step 2

Learn about your treatment options. Depending on the type and stage of your lung cancer, you may find chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, photodynamic or laser light therapy can be beneficial in treating your cancer and helping you live longer.
Step 3

Consider joining a clinical trial. You may be able to take part in more experimental therapies that may be able to treat your cancer or improve your quality of life. You can ask your doctor for more details on open clinical trials, or you can search for them yourself at the National Cancer Institute Web site (see Resources, below).
Step 4

Figure out how to deal with breathlessness. This is one of the biggest side effects of lung cancer and learning how to control it may improve your quality of life. Making an effort to inhale slowly through your nose and then exhale slowly through your mouth may make a difference.

Tips & Warnings

You have the right to receive screening and life stabilizing services in the event of an emergency, without prior authorization from the hospital or your insurance company.
When diagnosed with lung cancer it is common to experience a wide range of emotions. You may even feel anger and resentment toward loved ones for being healthy. This is a normal reaction. Nevertheless it may help to take advantage of local support groups.

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