Lung Cancer Awareness

Lung Cancer Symptoms You Should Never Ignore

Early signs of lung cancer may not cause symptoms. That is why awareness and screening are so important. If symptoms do appear, they can include:

• A cough that does not go away or changes over time
• Chest pain that worsens when you breathe deeply or laugh
• Coughing up blood
• Fatigue, weight loss or loss of appetite
• Hoarseness or wheezing
• Recurrent lung infections
• Shortness of breath

If you experience any changes in breathing or cough patterns, talk to your physician.

Lung Cancer Risk Factors

While smoking is still the main cause, about 1 in 5 people diagnosed each year are non-smokers. Factors that can raise your risk include:

• Air pollution and particulate matter
• Family history of lung cancer
• Occupational exposures, including asbestos, diesel exhaust and certain metals
• Previous chest radiation for another condition
• Radon gas in homes (a colorless, odorless natural gas)
• Secondhand smoke exposure

Lung Cancer Screening and Who Should Be Tested

Catching lung cancer early can save lives. When found before it spreads, it is much more treatable — with survival rates above 60%. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends annual low-dose CT scans for adults who:

• Are 50 to 80 years old
• Currently smoke or quit within the past 15 years
• Have a 20 pack-year smoking history (for example, one pack a day for 20 years)

Lung cancer screening is one of the most effective tools to save lives. If you meet the criteria, talk with your physician about scheduling a screening. Lung cancer prevention and early detection changes everything.

How Physicians Diagnose Lung Cancer

If imaging shows a suspicious area, your care team may recommend more tests to confirm a diagnosis and determine the best treatment plan. These may include:

• CT or PET scans to look at the lungs and other organs
• Bronchoscopy or needle biopsy to collect tissue samples
• Molecular testing to identify changes in the tumor and guide treatment planning

Catholic Health pulmonary teams have adopted innovative robotic bronchoscopy systems to reach small growths that sit in hard-to-reach parts of the lungs. This technique uses robotic tools and 3D imaging to help physicians guide a thin, flexible tube through the lungs to collect samples safely and accurately.

Dr. Chandrika added, “With this platform, we can safely reach nodules that used to be unreachable. This reduces the need for more invasive biopsy methods and helps us start treatment earlier.”

Lung Cancer Treatment Options and New Advances

Treatment today focuses on the right care for each person, not a one-size-fits-all approach. Depending on the type and stage of lung cancer, care may include:

• Targeted therapies that block specific mutations in cancer cells
• Immunotherapy to help the immune system recognize and attack cancer cells
• Minimally invasive surgery and robotic techniques that shorten recovery time
• Combination treatments that improve long-term survival in advanced stages

“Every year, our ability to personalize treatment gets stronger,” said Dr. Chandrika. “We now approach lung cancer as a disease with many subtypes — and that precision gives our patients real hope.”

Catholic Health also offers clinical trials that give eligible patients access to promising new therapies and research studies close to home.

How to Prevent Lung Cancer

While treatments continue to improve, prevention remains the most powerful way to save lives. You can lower your risk by:

• Asking your physician about lung cancer screening
• Avoiding secondhand smoke
• Not smoking, or quitting if you do
• Staying active and eating well
• Testing your home for radon
• Using protective gear if you work around dust, chemicals or fumes

Expert Lung Cancer Care, Survivorship and Support

You do not have to face lung cancer alone. Catholic Health’s Cancer Care team brings together experts from every specialty, including oncology, pulmonology, surgery and rehabilitation, to provide complete, compassionate care. Learn more about lung cancer treatments  at Catholic Health.

Catholic Health also offers survivorship programs  that help patients stay healthy and supported after treatment. These programs include follow-up care, emotional and spiritual support, and resources for returning to everyday life.