Lung cancer

The signs and symptoms of lung cancer can take years to develop and may not appear until the disease is advanced. Symptoms of lung cancer in the chest can include:

• Changes in color or volume of sputum
• Changes in the voice or being hoarse
• Coughing, especially if it persists or becomes intense
• Coughing up blood
• Coughing up phlegm or mucus
• Harsh sounds with each breath
• Pain in the chest, shoulder or back
• Recurrent lung problems, such as bronchitis or pneumonia
• Shortness of breath

If the original lung cancer has spread, you may feel symptoms in other places in the body. Common places for lung cancer to spread include the lymph nodes, bones, brain, liver and adrenal glands. Symptoms of lung cancer that may occur elsewhere in the body include:

• Bone fractures not related to accidental injury
• Bone or joint pain
• Bleeding
• Blood clots
• Fatigue
• General weakness
• Headaches
• Loss of appetite
• Muscle wasting
• Neck or facial swelling
• Neurological symptoms, such as unsteady walking or memory loss
• Unexplained weight loss

We offer lung cancer screenings with low-dose computerized tomography (LDCT). LDCT lung screening can show small, abnormal nodules in the lungs, especially in current or former smokers. A lung nodule is a spot on the lung that can be seen on an X-ray or CT scan, and may cause no symptoms at all. This overgrowth of tissue is either a benign tumor or an early stage of lung cancer. There are two types of lung cancer:

• Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) — NSCLC is the most common form of lung cancer and accounts for about 85 percent of lung cancers. There are various types of non-small cell tumors, including adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and large-cell carcinoma.
• Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) — SCLC begins in the nerve cells or the hormone-producing cells in the lung. This condition is more likely to be linked to smoking than NSCLC. It grows more rapidly and spreads easily to other parts of the body.

LDCT exposes people to a small amount of radiation. An LDCT scan radiation dose is equal to a person’s natural exposure every six months. Screening with LDCT will not find all lung cancers, and not all nodules detected will be cancerous. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of lung screening to see if the procedure is right for you.

To be eligible for a lung cancer screening, you must:

• Be 55 to 77 years old
• Have no signs or symptoms of lung cancer present
• Currently smoke or have quit smoking within the last 15 years
• Have a smoking history of at least 30 pack-years (one pack-year = smoking one pack per day for one year)

Call our oncology nurse navigator at (316) 962-5864 (LUNG) or your primary care physician to determine your eligibility. If you are eligible for the screening, the nurse navigator will contact your primary care physician for the order. After the screening, the nurse navigator will send your results to the referring physician, as well as coordinate any follow-up care, if necessary.

The screening may be covered by major insurance plans, but please check with your insurance provider regarding coverage.

You may receive a lung cancer screening at the following locations:

Wesley Medical Center
550 N. Hillside,
Wichita, KS 67215

Wesley Woodlawn Hospital & ER
2610 N. Woodlawn Blvd.,
Wichita, KS 67212

Wesley West ER & Diagnostic Center
8714 W. 13th St. N.,
Wichita, KS 67212

Wesley Derby ER
2648 N. Rock Road,
Derby, KS 67037

Have cancer questions? We can help. askSARAH is a dedicated helpline for your cancer-related questions. Our specially trained nurses are available 24/7, and all calls are confidential. Contact askSARAH at (316) 776-6470.