Your lungs help your blood get the oxygen it needs and remove carbon dioxide. The lungs include a network of tubes (bronchi), smaller tubes (bronchioles) and small air sacs (alveoli).
Lung cancer occurs when cells in the lungs grow in ways that aren't typical. These cancers often begin in the cells that line these tubes.
Some people show early signs of lung cancer. Others don't have any symptoms until cancer advances. Lung cancer symptoms may include:
- Chest pain
- Fatigue or weakness
- Persistent coughing (or coughing up blood)
- Repeated respiratory infections like bronchitis
- Trouble breathing
Our cancer experts treat all lung cancers. These cancers include two main types:
Non-small cell lung cancer
Most lung cancers are non-small cell lung cancer. There are different types of non-small cell lung cancer, and the type that develops depends on the cells involved. These cancers include:
- Adenocarcinoma: Cancer that forms in the mucus-producing cells of the alveoli
- Large cell (undifferentiated) carcinoma: Fast-growing tumors that grow anywhere in the lungs
- Squamous cell carcinoma: Cancer that begins in flat cells lining the airways
Small cell lung cancer
Small cell lung cancers tend to grow faster than other lung cancer types. They often spread to other parts of the body more easily.
Metastatic lung cancer
Lung cancers that don't start in the lungs are metastatic lung cancer. These cancers may spread to the lungs from another part of the body through the bloodstream or lymph system.
Screening for lung cancer in people at higher risk helps ensure that doctors find cancer when it is most treatable. We offer cancer prevention and screening services at convenient and comfortable locations.
We use several different tests to diagnose lung cancer. We begin with a physical exam and learning more about your family history of lung cancer.
Our experts will talk with you about your smoking history and any symptoms you're having. Diagnostic tests we may do include:
- Lung biopsy
- Core biopsy
- Fine needle aspiration biopsy
- Transthoracic needle biopsy
- Imaging tests
- Molecular testing for lung cancer
- Specialized tests for lung cancer
- Bronchoscopy
- Mediastinoscopy
- Sputum cytology
- Thoracoscopy
Our cancer experts consider your age, type of lung cancer and overall health when developing your personalized treatment plan. Cancer treatments may include:
Lung cancer surgery
Lobectomy
Pneumonectomy
Segmentectomy
Radiation therapy
Brachytherapy
External beam radiation therapy
Radiofrequency ablation
Systemic therapy
Chemotherapy
Immunotherapy
Targeted therapy
Our experts and partners also research new ways to treat cancer. Please read about our work at Sentara Health Research Center.