Lung Cancer
Learn about Lung Cancer including its common causes, symptoms, and treatments.
What is Lung Cancer?
Am I Eligible For A free Lung Cancer Screening?
Use the form to calculate your Pack Years to determine your possible risk factor based on your smoking history. Oneida Health is an ACR designated Lung Cancer Screening Center offering Low Dose CT scans that can detect lung cancer early.Symptoms of Lung Cancer
Symptoms of Lung Cancer may include:
- Coughing that does not improve
- Chest pain
- Shortness of breath
- Wheezing
- Coughing up blood
- Fatigue
- Weight loss with no known cause
- Unexplained bone pain
Possible Causes of Lung Cancer
Risk Factors of Lung Cancer
Risk factors of Lung Cancer may include:
- Smoking or second hand smoke
- Exposure to radon, asbestos or other substances that are known carcinogens
- Family history
- Radiation therapy to the chest
- Diet, specifically smokers who take beta-carotene supplements
- Drinking water from private wells with high levels of arsenic
Complications from Lung Cancer
Complications from Lung Cancer may include:
- Shortness of breath
- Coughing up blood
- Pain in the lung or elsewhere in the body, such as your bones
- Fluid in the chest
- Cancer that spreads to other parts of the body (metastasis)
How to Prevent Lung Cancer
There is no way to prevent lung cancer, but there are lifestyle changes you can make to reduce your risk of lung cancer:
- Don’t smoke, or if you smoke, stop smoking
- Avoid secondhand smoke
- Test your home for radon
- Avoid carcinogens and if you are exposed to them in your workplace, wear protective equipment such as a mask
- Eat a healthy diet with fruits and vegetables
- Exercise most days of the week
Learn about the Smoking Cessation program at Oneida Health.
A Low-Dose CT: Breathe Easier with Early Detection
A Low-Dose CT provides a detailed picture of your lungs that helps your physician locate anything abnormal – it can detect extremely small nodules. The exam is painless and requires no preparation.
During a Low-Dose CT scan, you will lie on your back on the exam table while one of our highly trained CT technicians assist you in getting comfortable.
The table will move slowly through the machine. You may be asked to hold your breath shortly during intervals of the exam. The entire exam will only take a few minutes.
Lung Cancer Screening At Oneida Health
Oneida Health is a designated Lung Cancer Screening Center. Certified by the American College of Radiology, we have been recognized for our commitment to safe, effective diagnostic care for individuals at the highest risk for lung cancer. Equipped with the latest Low-Dose CT technology in the area, our staff are committed to providing patients a comforting experience with attention to the highest quality of care. We are also a member of the Roswell Park Care Network – providing local access to cancer care from a nationally ranked NCI comprehensive cancer center.
Non-surgical biopsy options:
- Bronchoscopy – A thin, lighted tube (bronchoscope) is passed down the throat through either the mouth or nose to take samples of the spot seen by your doctor in the central areas of your lungs.
- Endobronchial Ultrasound (EBUS) – An ultrasound assisted bronchoscopy that allows for better examination of the lymph nodes and other structures in the center of the chest. This method can be used to see if cancer has spread or to remove tissue samples for testing.
- Electromagnetic Navigation Bronchoscopy™ (ENB™) procedure – Unlike traditional bronchoscopy, the doctor uses LungGPS™ technology (similar to GPS navigation) to access difficult-to-reach areas of the lungs, lymph nodes and surrounding areas. This is a minimally invasive method to take tissue samples for a diagnosis and can mark areas to pinpoint future treatment if needed.
- Needle biopsy – A hollow needle is inserted directly through the chest to get a sample of the spot seen by your doctor on the low-dose CT scan.
Surgical biopsy options:
- Mediastinoscopy – An incision is made above the breast-bone that allows a device with a camera to pass into the middle of the chest (mediastinum) to help doctors see the area and take tissue samples from the lymph nodes.
- Wedge Resection – An incision is made in the chest and the abnormal section of the lung is removed and tested.