Lung Cancer

About every two and a half minutes, someone in the U.S. is diagnosed with lung cancer. As the second most common cancer, lung cancer is also the leading cause of cancer death, making up almost 25% of all cancer deaths.

At our cancer center in Commerce Township, our physicians, nurses and other health care personnel know your treatment has to be as unique as you are. Our compassionate care teams will partner with you to develop an individualized lung cancer treatment plan designed to best meet your needs. To save more lives, it’s critical to prevent lung cancer when possible and diagnose the disease as early as possible. Our comprehensive approach to lung care includes a wide variety of diagnostic and treatment services in addition to a skilled team of professionals and support groups to help guide you every step of the way.  

Here are a few reasons why DMC is an excellent first choice in lung care:

• DMC Huron Valley-Sinai Hospital is designated as a Lung Cancer Screening Center by the American College of Radiology
• DMC Huron Valley-Sinai Hospital offers robotic-assisted bronchoscopy, a minimally invasive technology for early lung cancer diagnosis
• Radiation, infusion and surgical services available in Commerce Township
• Multidisciplinary approach, including nurse navigators for the coordination of care for patients and their families

What Is Lung Cancer Screening?

Lung cancer is most treatable when found in its earliest stages. Low-dose computer tomography (LDCT) scan is the only recommended lung cancer screening test. 

Do I Need a Lung Cancer Screening?

People who may be eligible for a lung cancer screening must:

• Be between 50 to 80 years old
• Have no symptoms of lung cancer
• Have a tobacco smoking history of at least 20 pack-years, with one pack-year equivalent to smoking one cigarette pack per day for a year
• Be a current smoker or have quit smoking within the last 15 years
• Have received a doctor’s recommendation for lung cancer screening with LDCT

If you have questions or need clarification about the guidelines, talk with your primary care physician to determine if a screening is right for you. Need help finding one?

Request a Primary Care Provider

What Are the Risk Factors of Lung Cancer?

• Age – as a person ages, they are at increased risk of developing lung cancer
• Genetics – family history of lung cancer
  
• Smoking – both first- and second-hand smokers 
  
• Exposure to asbestos or other air pollutants – asbestos is widely used for insulation. Exposure to this chemical over time may increase lung cancer risk
  
• Radon – a colorless, radioactive gas found in certain areas where uranium is present in the rocks or soils. Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers.
  
• Air pollution – air contaminants such as diesel exhaust
  
• Prior cancer treatment – people who have had chest radiation therapy are at higher risk for lung cancer

Symptoms of Lung Cancer 

Most people with lung cancer don’t have symptoms until the cancer is advanced. Lung cancer symptoms may include:

• Coughing – a persistent cough that gets worse and causes pain
  
• Coughing up blood – or coughing up rust-colored phlegm or spit
  
• Breathing problems – shortness of breath, noisy breathing or new wheezing onset
  
• Appetite loss
  
• Fatigue – feeling weak or tired
  
• Recurring infections – lung illnesses such as pneumonia and bronchitis that keep coming back
  
• Chest pain – especially pain that worsens with coughing, deep breathing or laughing
  
• Voice hoarseness

These symptoms can happen with other illnesses, too. If you experience any of these symptoms, talk to your primary care physician, who can help find the cause.