Lung Cancer
Lung Cancer Screening and Prevention
Lung cancer is the second most common type of cancer in both men and women. It starts in the lungs and usually doesn’t cause symptoms until later stages of the disease. While a high number of lung cancer cases happen in current or former smokers, you can still develop the disease even if you’ve never smoked.
Early detection is critical to finding lung cancer in the earliest stages. People with an increased risk of lung cancer may consider annual lung cancer screening using low-dose CT scans. National guidelines recommend annual screening for people 55 and older who smoked heavily for many years or who have quit in the past 15 years.
Discuss your lung cancer risk with your doctor. Together you can decide whether lung cancer screening is right for you. Screenings are completed with a simple CT scan of the lungs called Low Dose CT. This quick and easy test enables physicians to find lung tumors in their earliest stages. Beacon offers convenient locations to complete a Low Dose CT scan, talk to your primary care doctor to find out if lung cancer screening is right for you.
Learn About Lung Cancer Risk Factors
Why Choose Beacon?
If diagnosed with cancer, your team will review all of your test results with you and work collaboratively to develop a treatment plan that is best for you. Your team may consist of a thoracic surgeon, medical oncologist and a radiation oncologist, depending on the specific details of your cancer. During your consultation, you’ll be able to discuss your questions and concerns and talk about your plan of care with your oncologist. Your Beacon provider can also arrange for a second opinion through the Mayo Clinic at no charge.
If you have an increased risk for lung cancer, our genetic counselor can advise you about how to protect your health.
We understand that cancer affects more than just your body. That’s why we also offer educational resources and support groups to help you and your family during your cancer journey.
Lung Cancer Treatments
Beacon treats all types and stages of lung cancer and other cancers in the chest. For early stage lung cancers, surgery or radiation alone are often the only treatment you will need. For patients with early stage lung cancers who cannot have or prefer not to have surgery, radiation can often be delivered over as few as 5 treatments with an advanced technique called stereotactic ablative radiation therapy (SABR). For more advanced lung cancers, treatment often includes a combination of chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery. Beacon’s multidisciplinary team approach to cancer care connects teams focused on delivery the highest quality care to each individual patient.
