Lung cancer: the importance of early intervention.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the United States. Fifteen percent of patients are asymptomatic at diagnosis. Symptoms usually indicate advanced disease. Signs include chronic cough, hemoptysis, wheezing, dyspnea, vague chest pain, hoarseness, pleural effusion, cardiac arrhythmias and bone pain. Significant surgical advances have reduced operational mortality rate. Early detection and surgery can increase survival rates for some patients.