Final answer:
Lung cancer primarily develops in the lung tissues and can lead to symptoms such as coughing, shortness of breath, and chest pain. It is most commonly caused by tobacco smoke exposure, and late detection often leads to high mortality rates.
Step-by-step explanation:
Lung cancer is a malignant condition characterized by the uncontrolled growth of cells in the lung tissues. There are two main types of lung cancer: primary, which starts in the lungs, and secondary, which results from metastasis of cancer from another part of the body. The most common location for primary lung cancer is within the lung tissues where the tumor may begin in the cells lining the air passages.
The symptoms of lung cancer can vary but often include persistent coughing, coughing up blood (hemoptysis), wheezing, shortness of breath, chest pain, unexpected weight loss, and fatigue. Some individuals may also experience symptoms such as swollen lymph nodes, bone pain, or neurological symptoms due to the spread of cancer to other parts of the body. Sadly, lung cancer is often diagnosed late, and hence it's the leading cause of cancer-related death in men and the second in women, following breast cancer.
The major risk factor for developing lung cancer is exposure to tobacco smoke which is responsible for about 85 percent of cases. Not only is smoking harmful to the person who smokes, but it also affects non-smokers through secondhand smoke exposure. Treatments for lung cancer can include surgical removal of the tumor, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy, though many cases cannot be cured.