Lung cancer is a disease caused by uncontrolled cell division in your lungs. Your cells divide and make more copies of themselves as a part of their normal function. But sometimes, they get mutations that cause them to keep making more of themselves when they shouldn’t. Damaged cells dividing uncontrollably create masses, or tumors, of tissue that eventually keep your organs from working properly.

There are many cancers that affect the lungs, but we usually use the term “lung cancer” for two main kinds: non-small cell lung cancer and small cell lung cancer.

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Common symptoms of lung cancer include a new cough that lasts for a long period of time, shortness of breath, wheezing and constant chest pain. However, most patients do not experience these symptoms until their cancer has reached stage 3 or stage 4.

Early-stage lung cancer usually does not have symptoms. That's why Lung Cancer Screening is recommended for those with a high risk of lung cancer. It helps your doctor detect lung cancer at stage 1 or stage 2, when it can be most easily treated.

Smoking is the leading risk factor for lung cancer, and according to the American Cancer Society, 80% of lung cancer deaths are in those who had a significant smoking history. The longer you smoke and the more packs a day you smoke, the greater your risk. Secondhand smoke exposure also increases your risk for developing lung cancer.

Other risk factors can include:

• Older age
• Radon exposure
• Asbestos exposure
• Carcinogen exposure
• Air pollution
• History of chest radiation for a previous cancer

There are several diagnostic tests available for lung cancer. 

• Chest Radiograph: An imaging test that uses small amounts of radiation to produce pictures of the chest. These images are used to look for abnormalities or diseases of the airways, blood vessels, heart, and lungs.
• Chest CT Scan:  A Chest CT is similar to a chest radiograph, but it produces more detailed pictures of the organs and tissues of the chest. If an abnormality is seen on a chest radiograph, your doctor will likely perform a Chest CT.
• Pulmonary Function Tests:  A group of tests that measure how well your lungs work. These will measure how well you’re able to breathe and how effective your lungs are in bringing oxygen to the rest of the body.
• Lung Biopsy: A tissue sampling biopsy is required to confirm the presence of lung cancer. Your doctor - either a pulmonologist or interventional radiologist - will remove a small amount of tissue from your lungs and examine it to check for abnormal and cancerous cells. There are a number of factors that determine how the tissue sample is collected, including:
• The location of the lung abnormality
• Your baseline lung function
• Your other risk factors
• PET Scan: This imagining scan of the entire body is used to determine if cancer has spread beyond the lungs. PET scans can sometimes detect disease before it shows up on other imaging tests but usually takes place after your lung cancer diagnosis has been confirmed by your biopsy.
• Brain MRI: This is the gold standard test to rule out spread of lung cancer to the brain. A contrast material is injected into a vein before imaging scans of the brain are taken.

The evidence-based treatment plan your doctors choose is based on a number of factors: type of cancer, grade and stage of the cancer, your overall health, and your treatment preferences.

Surgery

Surgery is the cornerstone of therapy for early-stage lung cancers.  There are several surgical techniques - including Robot-Assisted Thoracic Surgery - that may be utilized to treat and cure lung cancer.  A thoracic surgeon will evaluate the appropriateness of surgery and the most effective methodology based on an individual’s tumor location, baseline lung function, and comorbidities. 

Medical Oncology

Chemotherapy for lung cancer involves the use of medications to shrink or kill cancerous cells. 

The board-certified medical oncologists, nurses, and technicians at Connecticut Oncology Group provide the most effective, advanced care with warm, personal attention and support for patients and their families. Your medical oncology team will work closely with your other providers and help provide access to clinical trials.

Radiation Oncology

Radiation oncology is the highly-controlled use of radiation to cure or treat symptoms your cancer.

Learn more about radiation therapy options at Middlesex