There is hope for people with lung cancer if it's caught early.  But finding it early is difficult because it is often asymptomatic.  The best way we can slow down the rate of lung cancer cases is to get people to stop smoking.  If you smoke...quit.  It's never too late, and if you don't smoke, don't start.  

``A cigarette is a euphemism for a cleverly crafted product that delivers just the right amount of nicotine to keep its user addicted for life before killing the person.'' World Health Organization director-general Gro Harlem Brundtland

Tobacco use is the single most preventable cause of death in the United States. It accounts for nearly one-third of all cancer deaths and greater than 85 percent of lung cancer deaths in this country each year.

Why is the percentage so high for lung cancer?  First, because it doesn't cause symptoms until it really presses on something important, like an airway.  Secondly, when people finally do show symptoms, those symptoms are not specific and mimic common, less serious health problems like an infection, asthma, bronchitis or even the common cold.  By the time lung cancer is diagnosed, it's most often in an advanced stage where the prognosis is poor.   

Lung cancer can be cured when it's caught in its very early stages.  Given the issues above, however, that's unlikely to happen for most people.  The better approach is not to get lung cancer in the first place and the best way to do that is to stop smoking (or being in the presence of smokers).

• The earlier a person quits, the greater the health benefit.  But, it's never too late.  Your risk of getting lung cancer begins to go down the day you stop smoking.  
• About 10 years after quitting, an ex-smoker's risk of dying from lung cancer is 30 percent to 50 percent less than the risk for those who continue to smoke.

Quitting is hard, but the benefits are great.  Help is out there and studies suggest that everyone can quite smoking with the right support.  Your doctor can help with nicotine replacement therapy and personal support.  The American Lung Association and others offer free online quit guides.  A nationwide toll-free line, (800) QUIT-NOW, will send callers to quit lines in their states or to operators at the National Cancer Institute. Organizations like Nicotine Anonymous offer local support groups.