MultiCare Health System

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Lung Cancer

According to the National Cancer Institute, lung cancer is the second most common cancer among both men and women, second only to colorectal cancer. Cigarette smoking accounts for nearly 90 percent of all lung cancers, and it is therefore the single most preventable cancer in existence.

Lung cancer is the rapid growth of abnormal cells in the lung. It can start anywhere in the lungs and affect any part of the respiratory system.

Learning about Lung Cancer

What is lung cancer?
What causes lung cancer?
What increases my risk of developing lung cancer?

Diagnosis

How is lung cancer diagnosed?
What tests will I need?

Treatment Options for Lung Cancer

During your treatment, we may utilize many tools to help in the treatment of lung cancer. By combining leading-edge technology, innovative therapies and the expertise of our dedicated team, we will work closely with you to determine the best combination of treatments, depending on the type and stage of the cancer.

There are two major types of lung cancer: small cell and non-small cell, and different subtypes of non-small cell lung cancer. Each type grows and spreads in different ways, and is treated differently. Non-small cell is the most common form of lung cancer, growing and spreading more slowly than the small-cell type, which is more likely to spread to other organs in the body.

Surgery. For many lung cancer patients, surgery is often one element of the treatment process. You and your doctor will work together to determine the surgical treatment options that may be best for you.

Radiation therapy. Radiation therapy is often used in combination with surgery or chemotherapy or both. A leader in providing the most advanced treatments and therapies available, MultiCare Regional Cancer Center offers intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), which more precisely targets a cancerous tumor while sparing the healthy surrounding tissue.

Chemotherapy. Chemotherapy involves the use of anti-cancer drugs to treat cancer. These drugs are designed to work by interfering with the rapidly dividing cancer cells in your body. Your doctors may suggest chemotherapy as form of lung cancer treatment before or after surgery. Chemotherapy is usually administered intravenously (through the vein) or orally in the form of pills. Your doctor may recommend additional medications to help alleviate chemotherapy-related side effects.