Lung cancer is cancer that forms in the tissues of the lung, usually in the cells lining the air passages. There are two main types of lung cancer - small cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer:
Small cell - this variety progresses more quickly and is more likely to spread beyond the lungs.
Non-small cell - is the more common of the two. It is slower-growing and less likely to spread to other organs of the body.
How is lung cancer diagnosed?(back to top)
When your physician suspects lung cancer, he or she may recommend a series of diagnostic tests. These tests will vary depending on the symptoms presented.
First, your doctor may order a chest X-ray, CT scan, or other non-invasive procedure. If these tests indicate possible lung cancer, a sputum cytology (a test which examines mucus) may also be recommended. To confirm the presence of lung cancer, a biopsy (which is the removal of a small sample of tissue for examination under a microscope) must be performed.
Your doctor may order one or more of the following tests to collect samples:
Bronchoscopy - your physician inserts a bronchoscope (a thin, lighted tube) through the nose or mouth into the lungs. This allows an examination of the lungs and the air passages that lead to them.
The doctor may also take a sample of cells through this tube. This is an outpatient procedure. The back of the throat is numbed with a local anesthetic spray or inhalation. In most cases, intravenous (IV) sedative medications are given before the procedure to induce drowsiness and relaxation. Patients are partially alert during the procedure.
In some cases, samples of tissue and fluid are taken using devices connected to the bronchoscope. Other procedures can be performed during the bronchoscopy, including removing foreign objects or delivering radiation therapy directly to the lungs. In general, the patient should not feel pain. Patients may also be asked to hold their breath for periods of time during parts of the procedure.
Core-needle aspiration – your physician uses a large bore needle to remove tissue or fluid from the lung.
Sometimes a CT scan or other imaging method is used to guide the needle to a lung tumor. This procedure is an advance over the fine-needle aspiration used at most other area hospitals because it collects more tissue for testing, yielding better results and reducing the need for retesting. The procedure uses a local anesthetic. It is about as painful as drawing blood from the arm for laboratory testing. Although not painless, any associated discomfort is usually minimal.
Mediastinoscopy - a lighted tube is inserted under the breast bone through an incision at the lower part of the neck and used to obtain tissue samples from lymph nodes around the airways. The tissue can then be tested for the presence of cancer cells.
Lung cancer treatment options(back to top)
Your treatment plan will depend on the location of your tumor, the stage of the cancer, your age, and your general health. Whatever treatment plan your physician specifies, you will have the resources of Brown Cancer Center’s state of the art technology and most advanced methods of treatment.
Treatment options may include one or a combination of the following:
Surgery
Surgery to remove the tumor and some of the tissue around it can sometimes be performed. This procedure reduces the chance that the cancer will remain in your body. The type of surgery performed depends on the size and location of the tumor. Some tumors cannot be removed surgically because of their size or location, and some patients cannot have surgery for other medical reasons.
Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy, which is also called radiotherapy, uses high-energy rays to kill cancer cells. Radiation therapy also may be used to relieve shortness of breath and other symptoms. Before you undergo radiation, a radiation oncologist and physicist plan the precise delivery of the radiation to minimize radiation to your vital organs and maximize the radiation to the affected area.
Respiratory Gating
The Brown Cancer Center uses the latest technologies available to treat patients. Respiratory gating is a high-resolution radiation therapy that significantly improves and defines the tumor contour. This allows for the maximum radiation dose to the tumor, while minimizing the damage to the surrounding healthy tissue. Respiratory gating uses a special filter to deliver radiation safely and in synchronization with your breathing patterns.
Stereotactic Radiosurgery is a treatment option for patients with early-stage, non-small cell lung cancer who are unable to undergo surgery because of another medical condition such as emphysema or heart disease. Your physician uses a small linear particle accelerator to administer radiation directly to the tumor in a highly targeted, non-invasive procedure.
Brachytherapy
Brachytherapy is a radiation technique which uses radioactive seeds temporarily implanted inside the tumor in the lung. This procedure may need to be repeated more than once.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy uses drugs to destroy cancer cells. The drugs enter the bloodstream and travel through out the body. Chemotherapy may be recommended to kill any remaining cancer cells following surgery, or to control cancer growth and relieve symptoms. Most chemotherapy drugs are given intravenously or in pill form.
Target Therapy
Target therapy is a process of stopping the development of a new blood vessel from forming in the cancer cells. It also blocks substances needed to slow down the growth of the tumor. Target therapy is used to treat advanced non-small lung cancer.
Clinical trials and research (back to top)
In addition to using the most advanced methods of diagnosis and treatment, the Brown Cancer Center is constantly examining new approaches to cancer treatment. Brown Cancer Center physicians participate in and initiate a wide range of ongoing clinical trials and research, giving you access to new therapies that may not yet be available in other parts of the world.
If you have general questions about your condition, the Brown Cancer Center, or free services available to you and your loved ones, please contact the Mint Jubilee Resource Center at 502.562.4158 or 866.530.5516.
Lung cancer is cancer that forms in the tissues of the lung, usually in the cells lining the air passages. There are two main types of lung cancer - small cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer:
Small cell - this variety progresses more quickly and is more likely to spread beyond the lungs.
Non-small cell - is the more common of the two. It is slower-growing and less likely to spread to other organs of the body.
How is lung cancer diagnosed?(back to top)
When your physician suspects lung cancer, he or she may recommend a series of diagnostic tests. These tests will vary depending on the symptoms presented.
First, your doctor may order a chest X-ray, CT scan, or other non-invasive procedure. If these tests indicate possible lung cancer, a sputum cytology (a test which examines mucus) may also be recommended. To confirm the presence of lung cancer, a biopsy (which is the removal of a small sample of tissue for examination under a microscope) must be performed.
Your doctor may order one or more of the following tests to collect samples:
Bronchoscopy - your physician inserts a bronchoscope (a thin, lighted tube) through the nose or mouth into the lungs. This allows an examination of the lungs and the air passages that lead to them.
The doctor may also take a sample of cells through this tube. This is an outpatient procedure. The back of the throat is numbed with a local anesthetic spray or inhalation. In most cases, intravenous (IV) sedative medications are given before the procedure to induce drowsiness and relaxation. Patients are partially alert during the procedure.
In some cases, samples of tissue and fluid are taken using devices connected to the bronchoscope. Other procedures can be performed during the bronchoscopy, including removing foreign objects or delivering radiation therapy directly to the lungs. In general, the patient should not feel pain. Patients may also be asked to hold their breath for periods of time during parts of the procedure.
Core-needle aspiration – your physician uses a large bore needle to remove tissue or fluid from the lung.
Sometimes a CT scan or other imaging method is used to guide the needle to a lung tumor. This procedure is an advance over the fine-needle aspiration used at most other area hospitals because it collects more tissue for testing, yielding better results and reducing the need for retesting. The procedure uses a local anesthetic. It is about as painful as drawing blood from the arm for laboratory testing. Although not painless, any associated discomfort is usually minimal.
Mediastinoscopy - a lighted tube is inserted under the breast bone through an incision at the lower part of the neck and used to obtain tissue samples from lymph nodes around the airways. The tissue can then be tested for the presence of cancer cells.
Lung cancer treatment options(back to top)
Your treatment plan will depend on the location of your tumor, the stage of the cancer, your age, and your general health. Whatever treatment plan your physician specifies, you will have the resources of Brown Cancer Center’s state of the art technology and most advanced methods of treatment.
Treatment options may include one or a combination of the following:
Surgery
Surgery to remove the tumor and some of the tissue around it can sometimes be performed. This procedure reduces the chance that the cancer will remain in your body. The type of surgery performed depends on the size and location of the tumor. Some tumors cannot be removed surgically because of their size or location, and some patients cannot have surgery for other medical reasons.
Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy, which is also called radiotherapy, uses high-energy rays to kill cancer cells. Radiation therapy also may be used to relieve shortness of breath and other symptoms. Before you undergo radiation, a radiation oncologist and physicist plan the precise delivery of the radiation to minimize radiation to your vital organs and maximize the radiation to the affected area.
Respiratory Gating
The Brown Cancer Center uses the latest technologies available to treat patients. Respiratory gating is a high-resolution radiation therapy that significantly improves and defines the tumor contour. This allows for the maximum radiation dose to the tumor, while minimizing the damage to the surrounding healthy tissue. Respiratory gating uses a special filter to deliver radiation safely and in synchronization with your breathing patterns.
Stereotactic Radiosurgery is a treatment option for patients with early-stage, non-small cell lung cancer who are unable to undergo surgery because of another medical condition such as emphysema or heart disease. Your physician uses a small linear particle accelerator to administer radiation directly to the tumor in a highly targeted, non-invasive procedure.
Brachytherapy
Brachytherapy is a radiation technique which uses radioactive seeds temporarily implanted inside the tumor in the lung. This procedure may need to be repeated more than once.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy uses drugs to destroy cancer cells. The drugs enter the bloodstream and travel through out the body. Chemotherapy may be recommended to kill any remaining cancer cells following surgery, or to control cancer growth and relieve symptoms. Most chemotherapy drugs are given intravenously or in pill form.
Target Therapy
Target therapy is a process of stopping the development of a new blood vessel from forming in the cancer cells. It also blocks substances needed to slow down the growth of the tumor. Target therapy is used to treat advanced non-small lung cancer.
Clinical trials and research (back to top)
In addition to using the most advanced methods of diagnosis and treatment, the Brown Cancer Center is constantly examining new approaches to cancer treatment. Brown Cancer Center physicians participate in and initiate a wide range of ongoing clinical trials and research, giving you access to new therapies that may not yet be available in other parts of the world.
If you have general questions about your condition, the Brown Cancer Center, or free services available to you and your loved ones, please contact the Mint Jubilee Resource Center at 502.562.4158 or 866.530.5516.