Lung Cancer

Schedule an appointment with a Catholic Health lung specialist if you are experiencing signs and symptoms, including:

• A change in color or volume of phlegm
• Chest, shoulder or back pain that’s unrelated to coughing
• Coughing up blood
• Coughing up phlegm or mucus
• Frequent lung problems such as bronchitis or pneumonia
• Harsh sounds with each breath
• Hoarseness or other changes to your voice
• Persistent or intense cough
• Shortness of breath

Catholic Health offers the most advanced testing and diagnostic tools for lung cancer, including:

• Biopsy
• Bronchoscopy—lets your physician view your lungs and airways
• Chest examination
• Chest X-ray
• Computed Tomography (CT) scan
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
• Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scan
• Physical examination
• Spiral Computerized Tomography (Spiral CT) scan—provides three-dimensional CT scan
• Sputum cytology—examines phlegm for cancer cells

Pneumonectomy

A surgical procedure to remove your entire lung. It may be used as treatment if taking a smaller portion of your lung would not eliminate the cancer. Removing cancer located deep within the center of your lung could also require a pneumonectomy.

Lobectomy

If your cancer is confined to one area of your lung, your physician may perform a lobectomy. Your lungs are divided into sections called lobes. Your right lung has three lobes and your left lung has two lobes. A lobectomy is a surgery to remove a lobe that contains a tumor or tumors that have not spread to nearby areas.

Segmentectomy

A segmentectomy is a surgery that removes cancerous lung tissues while preserving as much healthy lung tissue as possible. The procedure may be used if your cancer is in its early stages or you have health concerns that rule out more extensive surgery. It is most often used to remove benign lung masses that have not reached the lining of your lungs.