Lung cancer symptoms & treatment
Find a cancer specialistLung cancer is the second most common cancer affecting men (after prostate cancer) and women (after breast cancer). Even though it’s not the most common type of cancer, it’s by far the leading cause of cancer-related death in this country. Lung cancer primarily affects older adults, although it can happen at any age. This is why lung cancer screening is so important – helping to detect cancer at an earlier stage and save lives.
Symptoms
Lung cancer symptoms may include:
- Coughing, especially coughing up blood
- Chest pain
- Shortness of breath
- Recurrent infections like bronchitis or pneumonia
Unfortunately, by the time these symptoms are present, the cancer is often more advanced. Early lung cancer is often asymptomatic.
Screenings
Lung cancer screening can help save lives by looking for cancer before you have any symptoms. Finding and treating cancer early means you have a greater chance of survival. At Aurora Health Care we use a low-dose CT scan of your chest to detect lung cancer. The procedure is painless and usually lasts only a few minutes. You'll get your results within a week of your scan.
Who should get screened?
People with a history of cigarette smoking have a higher risk of lung cancer. Based on the National Lung Screening Trial findings, lung cancer screening is recommended for:
- People between the ages of 50 and 77
- Current smokers with a smoking history of at least 20 pack-years (e.g., one pack per day for 20 years, two packs per day for 10 years, etc.)
- Former smokers with at least a 20 pack-year smoking history who have quit within the last 15 years
How do I schedule a screening?
Get started with a lung cancer screening by scheduling an appointment with your primary care provider. You’ll discuss risk factors and determine if a lung screening is right for you.
If you have questions about lung cancer screening, call us at 800-252-2990.
Are you at risk for lung cancer?
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the U.S. Our lung health quiz helps identify your risk of lung cancer and gives you an idea of what to do next based on your results.
Treatment options
If you're diagnosed with lung cancer, your doctor may recommend one or more of the following treatment options based on the stage of your cancer:
Your surgeon may remove only a small part of your lung (called a segmental or wedge resection), the entire lobe (called a lobectomy) or the entire lung on one side (called a pneumonectomy).
Robot-assisted surgery is a less invasive surgical technique that allows for a more precise excision and an enhanced view of the lungs. This generally results in a smaller incision, decreased pain and a quicker recovery time.
At Aurora, minimally invasive techniques are commonly employed. VATS uses smaller incisions and the insertion of a small camera to remove portions of your lung. Smaller incisions generally result in less pain and shorter hospital stays.
This procedure may be used before surgery to shrink your tumor or after surgery to destroy any remaining cancer cells. For some individuals with early-stage cancers who are not candidates for surgery because of other medical problems or who do not desire surgery may consider CyberKnife® radiosurgery as an option. Your doctor might also recommend it in place of surgery or to relieve symptoms like pain or shortness of breath.
Chemotherapeutic drugs may be used to treat your cancer before or after surgery, or if surgery is not an option.
For some individuals with early-stage cancers who are not candidates for surgery because of other medical problems or those who do not desire surgery, CyberKnife® radiology is an option. CyberKnife® delivers radiation to your tumor with pinpoint accuracy, while sparing the normal, healthy tissue surrounding the cancer.
Palliative treatments can relieve or prevent pain or shortness of breath caused by advanced lung cancer.
PDT uses drugs called photosensitizes, which are “turned on” by certain types of light, to kill your cancer cells.
Brachytherapy involves placing small radioactive seeds into your airway (bronchus), typically for just a short time. These radioactive seeds deliver radiation directly to your tumor while they’re in place.
Lung tumors can sometimes cause your airway (also known as a trachea or bronchus) to become blocked, leading to shortness of breath. A stent is a tube used to open an airway or prevent it from collapsing.
This procedure removes fluid from around your lung and prevents it from coming back. Your surgeon will insert a camera into your chest to drain the fluid, then instill talc, which seals the linings of your lung (pleura) and prevents fluid from building up again.
A tube is placed in your chest to drain fluid from around your lung, and left there so that you can remove additional fluid yourself at home. Once all the fluid is gone, the tube is taken out.
No matter which treatment option you choose you'll have a team of dedicated specialists with you every step of the way. They include medical and radiation oncologists, thoracic surgeons, interventional radiologists, interventional pulmonologists and cancer nurse navigators.
Multidisciplinary Cancer Clinic
Aurora Cancer Care's Multidisciplinary Cancer Clinic brings together a team of dedicated thoracic cancer specialists to provide you with personalized care using the latest treatments and technologies. From diagnosis to treatment, we will coordinate your care to ensure the best possible outcome.
Our clinic follows the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines, a national organization dedicated to improving the quality and effectiveness of cancer care. Collaboration and communication between your primary care doctor and cancer team:
- Provides comprehensive, coordinated care and personalized treatment plans based on your cancer diagnosis
- Increases your access to clinical trials and the latest treatment approaches
- Improves efficiency and follow-up care
Meet our thoracic surgeons
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