Lung Cancer

Southcoast Health is a leader in lung cancer screenings and treatment, ensuring you receive the most accurate diagnosis and personalized care plan available. This disease remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the U.S, surpassing colon, breast and prostate cancers combined. Early detection plays a vital role in successful treatment, and we can help high-risk individuals arrange routine screenings.

When Is Lung Cancer Screening Recommended?

Request a Pre-Screening Consult About Our Screening Program

Our lung cancer screening program is designed to detect cancer at an early stage, when it’s small, localized and most treatable. By identifying issues before symptoms appear, we improve the chances of successful outcomes for high-risk patients.

To be eligible for a screening, you must meet the following criteria:

Be between the ages of 50 and 80
Have a long-term history of heavy smoking (defined as one pack a day for 20 years, or two packs a day for 10 years)
If you’ve quit smoking, it must have been within the last 15 years
Have not had a chest CT scan within the past year.

Types of Lung Cancers

Understanding your specific type of lung cancer can help you and your care team make the best treatment decisions. There are three main types of lung cancer:

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC): The most common type, making up about 85% of lung cancer cases. It usually grows and spreads more slowly. Subtypes include adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and large cell carcinoma.
Small cell lung cancer (SCLC): Less common but more aggressive, it tends to grow and spread rapidly. Subtypes include oat cell carcinoma (the most common) and combined small cell carcinoma.
Carcinoid tumors: Rare and slow-growing, these make up a small percentage of lung cancers.

More About Lung Cancer

Lung cancer can affect anyone, but smoking remains the leading risk factor, responsible for about 90% of all cases. This includes the use of cigarettes, cigars and pipes. The longer you smoke and the more you smoke each day, the higher your risk.

The good news is that quitting at any age significantly lowers your risk over time.

Other factors that can increase your risk of developing lung cancer include:

Exposure to asbestos or other hazardous materials and chemicals
Exposure to radon gas
Breathing in secondhand smoke
A family history of lung cancer

If you think you may be at risk, talk to your doctor about whether a cancer screening is right for you.

Lung tumors can develop silently, often without pain or noticeable symptoms, which is a main reason lung cancer is rarely detected in its early stages. By the time symptoms appear, the disease has often advanced, making treatment more difficult.

When symptoms do occur, they may include:

A persistent cough that doesn’t go away or gets worse
Changes in a chronic cough or “smoker’s cough”
Chest pain, especially when breathing deeply, coughing, or laughing
Coughing up blood or rust-colored mucus
Shortness of breath or wheezing
Unexplained fatigue or weakness
Weight loss or decreased appetit

If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, especially if you’re at higher risk, talk to your doctor right away.

At Southcoast Health, your treatment plan is tailored to the type and stage of your lung cancer, ensuring you receive the most effective and least invasive care plan possible. Our team uses advanced therapies and the latest in cancer research to provide each of our patients with the best possible outcomes.

Treatment options include:

Minimally invasive surgery, including stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT)
Chemotherapy to target and kill cancer cells
Radiation therapy to shrink or eliminate tumors
Robotic-assisted surgery for enhanced precision and quicker recovery
Targeted therapy that focuses on specific genetic changes in cancer cells
Immunotherapy, which helps your body’s immune system fight cancer

Our multidisciplinary team works closely with you through every step of your care, from diagnosis to recovery.

Lung Cancer

When Is Lung Cancer Screening Recommended?

Types of Lung Cancers

More About Lung Cancer

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