Lung Cancer Specialist

What is lung cancer?

Lung or pulmonary cancer develops when some of the cells within your lung change and start to multiply rapidly. This typically happens in one lung, but without treatment, lung cancer can spread into your other lung and the lymph nodes nearby.

When left untreated, lung cancer can spread (metastasize) to other organs. The sooner you get a diagnosis of lung cancer, the higher your chances of survival. By the time the tumor metastasizes, it's reached a stage that’s much more challenging to treat.

What types of lung cancer are there?

There are two types of lung cancer. Non-small cell lung cancer (NCSLC), responsible for around 90% of cases, is the most common type. There are three forms of non-small cell lung cancer:

• Squamous cell carcinoma
• Adenocarcinoma
• Large cell carcinoma

Small cell lung cancer is much less common. This form of the disease typically grows faster than NCSLC and is more likely to spread to other areas of your body.

What causes lung cancer?

By far, the most common cause of lung cancer is smoking. Non-smokers can still get small cell lung cancer. Certain environmental substances can increase the risk of developing lung cancer, including:

• Diesel exhaust 
• Asbestos
• Radon gas
• Uranium
• Arsenic

If other people in your family have had lung cancer, you're more at risk of getting the disease, as well.

What are the symptoms of lung cancer?

Some of the common symptoms of lung cancer include:

• Chronic cough
• Shortness of breath
• Hoarse voice
• Unusual fatigue
• Weight loss
• Coughing up blood
• Recurring pneumonia

To diagnose lung cancer, you might need to undergo tests such as PET scans, CT scans, MRI scans, fused PET and CT, and electromagnetic navigation bronchoscopy.

How is lung cancer treated?

Treatment for lung cancer varies depending on the stage of your condition. Surgery is one option, or you could undergo chemotherapy and radiation therapy, either alone or combined with surgery.

The Greater Houston Radiation Oncology team specializes in using state-of-the-art radiation therapy treatments and techniques such as:

• Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT)
• Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT)
• Image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT)
• RapidArc™ Volumetric Arc Therapy

Four-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (4D CRT) is particularly useful for treating lung cancer patients. It can measure how tumors move during natural motions like breathing, ensuring the utmost precision in the delivery of radiation therapy.

These techniques might be used alone or in combination. They use advanced technology to target cancerous cells precisely and minimize harm to the surrounding organs and tissues. They also use the smallest doses of radiation possible to reduce or eliminate tumors while causing fewer side effects.

To find out more about the latest radiation therapy treatments for lung cancer, call Greater Houston Radiation Oncology or book an appointment online today.