Oncology

Lung Cancer

Our team of experts treats lung cancer with advanced tools and techniques that support your health and wellness.

Advanced Lung Cancer Care

At The Christ Hospital Health Network, our lung cancer experts take a team-based approach to your care and use every available tool to fight your lung cancer. Our Lung Cancer Collaborative—a team of doctors and administrative leaders—meets monthly to discuss the latest developments in lung cancer screening, diagnosis and treatment. You can count on us to deliver the advanced, compassionate care you need.

Advanced Diagnostics and Enhanced Treatments

Innovative detection and diagnostic techniques make personalized lung cancer treatment possible. Our specialists are on the front lines of this care. We use leading-edge tests to identify lung cancer early when it is most treatable.

The Support You Need to Quit Smoking

Smoking tobacco is the No. 1 contributor to lung cancer. When you’re ready to quit, we can help you find information about medications, alternative therapies and other resources to support you.

Community resources include:

Kentucky Tobacco Quit Line: smoking cessation coaching over phone, email or text
National Cancer Institute (NCI) Quit Line: one-on-one smoking cessation counseling
Ohio Tobacco Quit Line: free nicotine replacements and personal telephone coaching

Your Care Partners

A lung cancer diagnosis can cause anxiety and raise many concerns. You may have questions about your treatment or whether your cancer may return. We understand that it can feel overwhelming. That’s why we fully explain your diagnosis and offer clear, honest answers that help you make the most informed decisions about your care. And, as your care team, we’ll support you through treatment and recovery.

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Overview

Lung cancer is a type of cancer that starts in one or both lungs. Without treatment, it can spread to other parts of your body, including your bones, brain and lymph nodes. In the United States, lung cancer is responsible for one in four cancer-related deaths.

There are two main types of lung cancer:

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)—this is the most common kind of lung cancer. It describes several types of lung cancer, including adenocarcinoma, large cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma.
Small cell lung cancer—this type of lung cancer makes up roughly 15 to 20 percent of all lung cancer cases. Almost everyone diagnosed with small cell lung cancer has a history of smoking cigarettes

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Screening

Early lung cancer detection can save lives. Screening with a low-dose CT scan can help us catch cancer in the early stages when it is the most treatable and before it spreads. Medicare and most insurance plans pay for screening if you qualify for the test. You may be eligible if you meet these criteria:

Are a current smoker or have quit within the last 15 years
Are age 50–77 and are in good health
Have no signs or symptoms of lung cancer
Have a tobacco-smoking history of at least 20 pack years (if you have smoked a pack a day for 20 years or two packs a day for 10 years)

Complete our lung appointment request form to see if you’re a candidate for lung cancer screening. If your screening reveals a lung nodule, we will connect you with our Lung Nodule Clinic.

Research & Clinical Trials

Clinical trials give you access to promising new cancer treatments before they’re widely available.

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Diagnosing Lung Cancer

If your doctor suspects you may have lung cancer, they will recommend one or more of the following tests to confirm your diagnosis.

Biopsy

For this test, your doctor takes a small sample of abnormal tissue or fluid and examines it under a microscope.

Endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) with Transbronchial Needle Aspiration (EBUS-TBNA)

This image-guided procedure can help your doctor biopsy mediastinal masses or cancer, pulmonary nodules, and endobronchial or peribronchial lesions. Your doctor may use it to diagnose and stage suspected or known non-small cell lung cancer. It can also guide other procedures, like airway stenting.

Navigational Bronchoscopy

This CT-guided minimally invasive procedure uses a small tube (bronchoscope) with a camera attached to see inside your lungs. During the procedure, your doctor may collect a small sample of your lung tissue.

Sputum Cytology

This test examines mucus from your lungs to detect cancer cells.

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Lung Cancer Treatment

We offer some of the most advanced medical, surgical, and radiation treatments available. Your treatment plan may include one or more of the following:

Medications

Chemotherapy

These drugs kill cancer cells and shrink tumors.

Immunotherapy

These drugs are one of the newest ways to treat some types of non-small cell lung cancer. They help your immune system recognize and kill cancer cells.

Targeted Therapies

These drugs target specific tumor cells to prevent them from growing or spreading. Your doctor may perform genetic testing to determine if you are eligible for this treatment. Targeted therapies treat some types of non-small cell lung cancer.

Radiation Therapy

Surgery

Lobectomy

This open procedure removes a single lobe from your lung.

Minimally Invasive Surgery

Our thoracic surgeons <link to Thoracic Surgery Provider page> may use navigational bronchoscopy, robotic surgery or video-assisted thoracoscopy to remove tumors.

Pneumonectomy

This open procedure removes one of your lungs entirely

Radiosurgery

This targeted form of radiation therapy treats difficult tumors in fewer sessions. It is designed for tumors that move during treatment, such as those affected by breathing.

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