Lung cancer is the leading cancer killer among men and women alike, claiming more lives than breast, colon and prostate cancer combined. Non-small cell lung cancer is the most common type of this disease, accounting for 87 percent of all lung cancers. Because lung cancer has usually spread throughout the body before it is discovered, the survival rates for patients are quite poor. But new therapies and advances in imaging studies that could lead to earlier detection are serving as beacons of hope for patients and their families.