Your lungs are a pair of spongy, pinkish organs that sit in your chest. When you inhale, air enters your lungs which then move oxygen into your blood and carbon dioxide out of your body through exhalation.

Unfortunately, like every other part of the body, lungs are susceptible to cancer. Cancer occurs when some of the body's cells grow uncontrollably. This can happen to the lungs. In fact, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide.

Symptoms of lung cancer

Typically, lung cancer doesn't show signs or symptoms in the early stages. It's only when the disease has become more advanced that the symptoms will show. Some can include:

• A new cough that doesn't go away
• Coughing up blood (even just a little)
• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain
• Hoarseness
• Losing weight without trying
• Bone pain
• Headache

When to see a doctor

If you start regularly showing signs of any of these symptoms, schedule an appointment with your doctor.

Also, if you smoke regularly, your doctor can recommend strategies for quitting, such as counseling, medications and certain products. Smoking cigarettes is the number one cause of lung cancer for both men and women. It's important to take it seriously.

But did you know that cigarette smoking isn't the only cause of lung cancer? In fact, there are many other risk factors that may surprise you. Download our lung cancer guide to learn about a few risk factors that you probably haven't heard of.

If you think you may be at risk for lung cancer, schedule an appointment with your primary care physician.