Cancer that starts in the lung is called primary lung cancer. The lungs are the parts of the body that we use to breathe. Lung cancer is the third most common cancer in the UK. About 49,200 people are diagnosed with it each year.

There are 2 main types of primary lung cancer. These are non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC). To find this out the type you have the cancer cells are examined in a laboratory by a doctor who is an expert in cell types.

Both types of lung cancer behave in different ways. Your treatment will depend on the type you have. We have more detailed information about:

• non-small cell lung cancer and how it is treated
• small cell lung cancer and how it is treated.

There are other types of cancer that start in the lung or that sometimes spread to the lung.

Cancers that start in another part of the body, such as in the breast, bowel or bladder may sometimes spread to the lungs. This is called secondary lung cancer. We have more information about secondary lung cancer.

A cancer that affects the pleura, which is the covering of the lungs, is called pleural mesothelioma. We have more information about pleural mesothelioma.

A rare cancer that can start in the lungs is called a neuroendocrine tumour. We have more information about neuroendocrine tumours.