What to Know About Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer:

Symptoms, Risk Factors, and Treatment

Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer death in the United States, and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for roughly 87% of all lung cancer diagnoses, according to the American Cancer Society. The American Cancer Society projects that more than 229,000 new lung cancer cases will be diagnosed in the U.S. in 2026, and while survival rates have been steadily improving over the past decade, understanding the signs and risk factors of NSCLC is one of the most important steps toward early detection and better outcomes.

NSCLC is not a separate disease from lung cancer—it’s the most common type, accounting for about 80–85% of all lung cancer diagnoses. The remaining cases are small cell lung cancer (SCLC), a less common but more aggressive form. 

An NSCLC diagnosis can also bring significant financial strain, on top of the physical and emotional toll of treatment. That’s why Accessia Health has opened a dedicated Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patient Assistance Program, offering eligible patients up to $4,000 in support toward the cost of their care. 

What Is Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer?

NSCLC is an umbrella term for a group of lung cancers that behave differently from small cell lung cancer (SCLC), the other major category of the disease. Under the microscope, NSCLC cells grow and spread more slowly than small cell lung cancer cells, which generally allows for a wider range of treatment options, especially when the disease is caught early.

The National Cancer Institute explains that NSCLC is made up of three main subtypes, grouped together because they respond to treatment in similar ways:

• Adenocarcinoma — the most common subtype, which begins in the cells that line the outer parts of the lungs and produce mucus
• Squamous cell carcinoma — which develops in the flat cells lining the airways, often linked to a history of smoking
• Large cell carcinoma — a faster-growing subtype that can appear in any part of the lung

Because NSCLC often develops silently in its early stages, many people are not diagnosed until the disease has already spread, which is why understanding the symptoms and risk factors matters so much.

Common Symptoms

Early-stage NSCLC frequently causes no noticeable symptoms at all. When symptoms do appear, according to the American Cancer Society and the National Institutes of Health, they may include:

• A persistent cough that doesn’t go away or gets worse over time
• Coughing up blood or rust-colored sputum
• Chest pain that worsens with deep breathing, coughing, or laughing
• Hoarseness
• Unexplained weight loss and loss of appetite
• Shortness of breath
• Feeling tired or weak
• Recurring infections, such as bronchitis or pneumonia
• New onset of wheezing

If NSCLC spreads beyond the lungs, additional symptoms can develop depending on where it travels, such as bone pain, headaches, or swelling in the face or neck. Because many of these symptoms overlap with less serious respiratory conditions, they are sometimes dismissed or mistaken for a lingering cold, which can delay diagnosis.

When Should You See a Doctor?

Because early-stage NSCLC often has few or no symptoms, routine screening can be lifesaving for people at higher risk. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends annual lung cancer screening with a low-dose CT scan for adults who:

• Are between 50 and 80 years old
• Have a significant smoking history (generally 20 pack-years or more)
• Currently smoke or have quit within the past 15 years

Outside of screening, it’s important to talk with a healthcare provider if you experience:

• A cough that lasts more than a few weeks or changes in character
• Coughing up blood
• Chest pain that doesn’t go away
• Unexplained shortness of breath
• Unintentional weight loss
• Repeated respiratory infections

Bringing up these symptoms early, even if they seem minor, gives your provider the best chance to investigate further and catch the disease before it advances.

How Is NSCLC Diagnosed and Treated?

If NSCLC is suspected, doctors typically use a combination of imaging tests (such as CT or PET scans), a biopsy to confirm the presence of cancer cells, and molecular or biomarker testing to look for specific genetic mutations that can guide treatment. Staging, which ranges from Stage I (localized) to Stage IV (metastatic, meaning the cancer has spread to other parts of the body), helps determine the most effective treatment path and gives patients and providers a clearer picture of prognosis.

Treatment for NSCLC depends heavily on the subtype, stage, biomarker results, and a patient’s overall health. According to the National Cancer Institute, common treatment approaches include:

• Surgery to remove the tumor, often used for earlier-stage, localized cancers
• Radiation therapy, which uses high-energy beams to destroy cancer cells
• Chemotherapy, which uses drugs to kill fast-growing cancer cells throughout the body
• Targeted therapy, which attacks specific genetic mutations found in some NSCLC tumors, such as EGFR or ALK alterations
• Immunotherapy, which helps the immune system recognize and fight cancer cells

Many patients receive a combination of these treatments, and ongoing research continues to expand options, particularly in targeted and immune-based therapies that have contributed to meaningful survival gains over the past several years.

The Financial Impact

Between imaging, biopsies, biomarker testing, surgery, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, and the many follow-up appointments that come with ongoing care, out-of-pocket costs can add up quickly, even for patients with health insurance. Travel to and from treatment centers, time away from work, and the cost of insurance premiums can compound the strain even further.

Accessia Health is committed to helping individuals better manage these costs. Through our Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patient Assistance Program, eligible patients may receive up to $4,000 in financial assistance, with an additional $500 available specifically for travel expenses related to their care. Following Accessia Health’s Your Assistance, Your Choice model, this support can be applied flexibly toward qualified healthcare expenses, including:

• Medication and provider copays or coinsurance
• Health insurance premiums
• Diagnostic testing and monitoring
• Medical devices and equipment
• Travel expenses, including fuel, lodging, and public transportation
• Other qualified medical costs related to NSCLC care

Find Support for Your NSCLC Diagnosis

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer, check your eligibility today with our prescreening tool, or explore our full list of patient assistance programs to see what support may be available to you. Doctors, caregivers, and social workers are also welcome to apply on behalf of a patient.

→ Check Your Eligibility & Apply