Lung Cancer

Our doctors are vigilant when it comes to diagnosing and treating lung cancer. Lung cancer begins when cells in the lungs change and grow. These abnormal cells may form a mass or tumor and eventually spread to other body parts.

Each year, more than 230,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with lung cancer, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS). There is a 1 in 16 chance a man will develop lung cancer in his lifetime, and a 1 in 17 chance a woman will develop lung cancer in her lifetime, according to ACS.

North Kansas City Hospital Center has an impressive pulmonary rehabilitation program, the only one in the Northland certified by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation. Our nurse navigators will help guide you through diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation with empathy and compassion.

Types of Lung Cancer

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) accounts for 10 to 15 percent of lung cancers. SCLS tends to grow and spread faster than non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLCs), which comprise 80 to 85% of lung cancers.

There are three sub-types of NSCLCs:

Adenocarcinoma: This is the most common type of lung cancer. Adenocarcinoma forms in the cells of the epithelial tissues, which line the lungs.
Large cell carcinoma: Large cell carcinoma tends to grow and spread faster than adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. Large cell carcinomas can occur in any part of the lungs.
Squamous cell carcinoma: These cancers start in cells that line the lungs’ airways, also known as the bronchi. They are often found near the central part of the lung or main airway.

Lung Cancer Risk Factors

Several risk factors may increase your chances of developing lung cancer. If you smoke, the best way to reduce your risk of lung cancer is to quit. According to ACS, if you smoke, your risk of lung cancer is many times higher compared to those who don’t smoke. The more cigarettes you smoke per day and the earlier you start smoking, the greater your risk. If you are unable to quit smoking, talk with your doctor about counseling, medication or nicotine replacement products, such as patches or gum.

Nonsmokers can also develop lung cancer.

It’s important to understand that having a risk factor for lung cancer doesn’t mean you’ll develop the disease, but it does increase your likelihood. If you know you’re at a higher risk for lung cancer, you can take steps to lower it.

Common lung cancer risk factors include:

Family history of lung cancer
Long-term exposure to cancer-causing chemicals such as asbestos, arsenic and nickel
Long-term exposure to high levels of air pollution
Radiation therapy to the lungs
Radon exposure
Secondhand smoke
Smoking

Screening for Lung Cancer

If you’re considered high-risk for lung cancer, a low-dose CT screening can help detect the disease before you have symptoms. If the cancer is found early, treatment may be more successful.

To schedule a low-dose CT screening, you must have a doctor’s order and meet these criteria:

Age 50-77: This is the Medicare age range; check your health plan for non-Medicare age eligibility.
Asymptomatic: This means you have no signs or symptoms of lung cancer.
Smoke or have smoked at least 20 pack-years: You can calculate your pack-years by multiplying the number of years you’ve smoked by the packs per day.
You must be a current smoker or one who has quit smoking within the last 15 years.

During low-dose CT lung cancer screening, special X-ray equipment connected to a computer takes detailed pictures of your lungs. The test is quick, painless and accurate. You can schedule a CT screening by calling our scheduling office at 816.691.5267.

Symptoms of Lung Cancer

Lung cancer symptoms can vary from person to person and may include:

A cough that won’t go away and gets worse over time
Chest pain, especially if it’s worse when you laugh, cough or take a deep breath
Coughing up blood
Fatigue
Loss of appetite or unexplained weight loss
Repeated problems with pneumonia or bronchitis
Shortness of breath, wheezing or hoarseness
Swelling of the neck and face

Diagnostic Tests for Lung Cancer

Our specialists use several different tests to diagnose and gather information. Once lung cancer symptoms begin to cause symptoms, the disease will often show up on imaging tests. To confirm a diagnosis of lung cancer, our surgeons will perform a biopsy, in which a small amount of tissue is removed from the affected area and tested. Additional testing will determine if the cancer has spread to other parts of the body.

Lung cancer diagnostic tests may include:

Bone scan: We may do a bone scan to determine if lung cancer has spread to the bones.
Bronchoscopy: To examine the airways for tumors, we may use a bronchoscope, a small, thin, flexible tube with a light and a lens or a small video camera.
Endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS): This is a specialized type of bronchoscopy that is nonsurgical and minimally invasive. One of our radiologists obtains tissues or fluid samples from the lungs and surrounding lymph nodes to diagnose and stage lung cancer.
Imaging tests: We may schedule imaging tests, such as a CT scan, MRI or PET scan, to look at suspicious areas. These tests can help us determine whether the cancer has spread, determine the effectiveness of the treatment, and look for signs of cancer returning.

Lung Cancer Treatment Options

If you’re diagnosed with lung cancer you can count on our team of specialists to create a personalized plan just for you.

Treatments for lung cancer include:

Chemotherapy, which uses chemicals to stop cancerous cells from growing or multiplying, is often used at different times during lung cancer treatment
Radiation therapy, which may be given before lung cancer surgery to shrink the tumor or after surgery to kill cancer cells left in the lungs
Surgery, which takes into consideration the type, location and size of lung cancer
Targeted therapy, which involves using drugs that work in the bloodstream to reach distant parts of the body and interfere with proteins that help tumors grow, divide and spread