What causes lung cancer?
Smoking, asbestos, radon, environmental hazards, diet, gender, other diseases, family history and air pollution have all been shown to increase the risk of lung cancer. For more information on lung cancer risks click here.
How is lung cancer treated?
Surgery is most often used in combination with chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy. Surgical procedures are selected based on the size, type and location of the tumor. Procedures including wedge and segment resections, lobectomy and pneumonectomy are pictured below. A surgeon, medical oncologist and radiation oncologist determine the treatment plan that is right for each individual. Click here for more details on lung cancer treatments.
Thoracic Surgery
Doctors specializing in thoracic surgery often use small scopes to visualize areas inside the chest and perform procedures for diagnostic and treatment purposes. Such procedures include bronchoscopy (scope of the bronchus), esophagoscopy (scope of the esophagus), mediastinoscopy (scope of the area behind the sternum) and thoracoscopy (scope of the thorax). In addition, the Exeter Hospital radiology department specializes in CT scan guided biopsies in order to confirm diagnoses.
Thoracic surgery is most often used in the diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer, esophageal cancer and some lymphomas. Bronchoscopy is pictured below.
Meet our affiliated thoracic surgeons:
Roderick McKee, MD
Chris Roseberry, MD
Our pulmonologists are skilled in evaluating all lung diseases and sleep disorders. In addition, they perform diagnostic bronchoscopies and pre-operative evaluations prior to thoracic surgery.
Meet our affiliated pulmonologists:
Paul Deranian, MD
Elizabeth Lynch, MD
Additional resources:
American Lung Association
Lung Cancer.org
Leukemia/Lymphoma Society
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