Lung Cancer: Not Just a Smoker's Disease
This article describes risk factors, assessment, and treatment of lung cancer in never smokers; addresses the physical and psychosocial impact of the disease; and discusses the nurse's role in promoting positive outcomes, including lung cancer screening and patient education.
Course Details
Overview
Although lung cancer is inextricably linked to smoking, about 25% of lung cancers occur in never-smokers. According to the American Cancer Society, new cases of lung cancer in the United States during the past year were estimated just over 200,000; deaths from lung cancer numbered just over 150,000, including about 56,000 deaths in never-smokers. Lung cancer in never-smokers (LCINS) is the 7th leading cause of cancer deaths in this country.
This article describes risk factors, assessment, and treatment of lung cancer in never smokers; addresses the physical and psychosocial impact of the disease; and discusses the nurse's role in promoting positive outcomes, including lung cancer screening and patient education.
Key Learning Outcomes
- Identify causes of lung cancer in never-smokers (LCINS).
- Describe how LCINS is diagnosed.
- Discuss the management of LCINS.
Presented by
Victoria Sherry, DNP, ANP-BC, AOCNP
Sherry is an oncology nurse practitioner at the Abramson Cancer Center of the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.