While lung cancer is often thought of as a smoker’s disease, smoking is not its only cause. There are a number of risks that may cause lung cancer, among those being age, smoking, and exposure to asbestos, radon or chemical agents such as Agent Orange or depleted uranium (DU).

• Surgery - This treatment is only available to patients with cancer in one lung and nearby lymph nodes. Unfortunately, since small cell lung cancer is typically found in both lungs, surgery is not commonly used. Laser therapy, which involves the application of a narrow beam of light that kills cancer cells, may be used during surgery.

Lung cancer symptoms are rarely felt until the disease has developed into an advanced stage. Even when symptoms are felt, people often tolerate them for some time before they seek medical assistance. For instance, it's easy to shrug off shortness of breath as being out of shape, or a chronic cough as a bad cold or allergies. More obvious symptoms, such as coughing up blood or dyspnea (difficulty breathing), may occur before medical advice is asked for.

Asbestosis ("asbestoses" is the pleural form) is a non-cancerous scarring of the delicate tissues of the lungs caused by asbestos exposure. Although it is not cancerous, asbestos exposure may also cause lung cancer or mesothelioma, and asbestosis is an indicator that you are at a higher risk of contracting these asbestos-related diseases.

Drug treatments for asbestosis include pain medication, bronchodilators, and antibiotics.

Bronchodilators are prescribed to help asbestosis patients breathe more easily. These medications are typically provided in the form of a "puffer" inhaler that releases a measured dose of medication with each squeeze. Bronchodilators work by relaxing the muscles of the airways, which enables the lungs to inhale as much air as possible.

Some patients also find relief through alternative medical treatments such as acupuncture, massage therapy, and homeopathic medicine. While none of these treatments offer a cure for asbestosis, many of them do offer relief from pain, reduction of inflammation, and an increase in pulmonary function. The most commonly used alternative therapies are listed below.

While there is currently no cure available for malignant mesothelioma, there are treatments available. The types of treatments may include: