Lung cancer affects the lungs, which are air sacs found in the respiratory system that are responsible for providing oxygen to the bloodstream. It results from cells growing at an irregular rate, forming a tumor and spreading to other parts of the body. Lung cancer is treated with surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy and other types of therapy, but treatments are more effective if the cancer is diagnosed early.
Physical Examination
A doctor first performs a complete physical examination and discusses the patient's history to determine whether she engages in behaviors that could put her at risk for lung cancer, such as smoking. The physician also will ask about her symptoms, which may include coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, chest pain, bloody mucous, hoarseness, difficulty swallowing and bluish-colored skin.
Chest X-Ray
During a chest X-ray, pictures are taken of different parts of the side of a patient's body to look at her organs. Although a chest X-ray cannot illustrate conclusively whether cancer is present, it can show where there are abnormal formations of tissues inside the lungs, which are nodules.
CT and MRI Scans
During a computerized axial tomography (CT) scan, an X-ray machine is used to take two-dimensional pictures of the abdomen, chest and/or brain. A CT scan can show whether cancer has spread to other parts of the body besides the lungs. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan uses a scanner with a magnet and radio waves to get pictures of bodily structures. This procedure is also used to find abnormalities in different parts of the body.
PET and Bone Scans
A positive emission tomography (PET) scan uses a radioactive drug to take three-dimensional images of body tissues. PET scans look for changes in metabolic and tissue functions and show whether cancerous cells have spread beyond the lungs. A bone scan is a procedure where radioactive material shows whether lung cancer has spread to the bones. The material collects on areas of the bones where tumors are present.
Sputum Cytology
Sputum cytology determines if cancerous cells are present in the airways. Mucous samples are taken from a patient so they can be studied under a microscope. One problem with this test is that cancerous cells are not always present in mucous.
Bronchoscopy and Needle Biopsy
A bronchoscopy is another procedure used to look for the presence of a tumor in the airways. Samples, which are examined under a microscope, are taken from cells in the center of the lungs or airways using a thin probe. During a needle biopsy, a thin needle is used to take samples from the lungs, lymph nodes or other areas where the cancer has likely spread. When it is difficult for a physician to get to cancerous cells because a tumor is peripherally located inside the lung, a needle biopsy is performed.
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