The aging population results in the rapid expansion of high-risk patients with lung cancer,while the early diagnosis technology increases the proportion of patients with lung cancer at early stage. Early intervention on high-risk patients and postoperative patients to prevent the occurrence and metastasis of lung cancer is the key to improve the overall survival. Due to lack of effective means of intervention for this group in modern medicine,the guiding ideology and diagnosis and treatment concept of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of cancer are mainly based on patients at advanced stage. New theories and methods are urgently required to guide the intervention and treatment for this group.Based on the classical theory of traditional Chinese medicine on the understanding of human life activities,combined with the latest development of modern oncology,this paper puts forward and systematically elaborates that “ deficiency of vital qi and hidden toxin” is the core pathogenesis of lung cancer,which provides sound theoretical guidance for traditional Chinese medicine in the prevention and treatment of lung cancer. Meanwhile,it serves a meaningful attempt to realize the theoretical innovation of traditional Chinese medicine through combining with the latest development of modern medicine.