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Lung cancer cells typically start growing in the linings of air passages, sometimes deep in the lungs. Uncontrolled cell growth forms a tumor that may grow undetected, since the lungs have relatively few nerve endings to cause pain or other symptoms.
Advancements in lung screenings for those at high risk, clinical research and treatment have contributed to significant increases in lung cancer survival — up 26% over five years, according to the American Lung Association. When detected early, the 20-year survival rate is as high as 81%, according to a 2023 study.
Lung cancer can start in the air passages and spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body. Cancers that start elsewhere in the body also can spread to the lungs.
While tobacco smoke is a leading risk factor for lung cancer, anyone can get it. Radon, an odorless and colorless gas that can accumulate in homes, is the leading cause of lung cancer among nonsmokers in the United States.
As frequent leaders of clinical trials into new therapies, Norton Cancer Institute’s specialists can offer access to new drugs and treatments before they’re approved for wider use. As researchers, our physicians are often more experienced than others with a new therapy once it’s approved for widespread use.
If you get a lung cancer diagnosis, you want to start getting better right away. Norton Cancer Institute offers same-day appointments for newly diagnosed patients.
Our board-certified and fellowship-trained physicians practice at more than 10 offices in the Louisville area — from Madison, Indiana, to West Louisville and from Corydon, Indiana, to Shelbyville, Kentucky — as well as infusion centers, resource centers and a specialized women’s cancer practice in downtown Louisville.
The Norton Cancer Institute Comprehensive Lung Center gives eligible patients access to the latest in lung cancer screenings, same-day follow-up appointments with a medical oncologist following a confirmed cancer diagnosis, and fast access to treatment and support services. It was the first Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation Center of Excellence in Kentucky.
Lung cancer cells can grow for years without causing any symptoms. Early lung cancer symptoms often can appear to be similar to less-serious conditions. See a medical professional if you have a cough that won’t go away, have unusual shortness of breath, are coughing up blood or have extreme fatigue.
If you are at high risk or have a family history of lung cancer, talk to your primary care provider about a low-dose CT lung cancer screening that can reveal cancer cells in the airways.
A cough or pneumonia that keeps coming back after treatment sometimes can be an early sign of lung cancer.
Lung cancer signs can include:
Frequent lung infections can be associated with progressing lung cancer, as a tumor may obstruct airways or weaken the immune system.
There are two main types of lung cancer:
Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common, accounting for about 80% to 85% of all lung cancers. Examples of non-small-cell lung cancers include adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and large-cell carcinoma. Adenocarcinoma is a common type of lung cancer in nonsmokers.
Small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) accounts for nearly all the other lung cancers. It tends to grow and spread quickly.
Jackie is living each day to its fullest because she followed her friend’s advice and called for a second opinion, even though she liked her first doctor and the facility’s reputation.
Norton Cancer Institute uses the latest equipment and procedures to make a precise diagnosis of your lung cancer and provide a customized treatment plan.
Our oncologists can evaluate masses painlessly with ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging. When a biopsy is needed to retrieve tissue to precisely diagnose your lung cancer, we use minimally invasive robotic-assisted bronchoscopy. This allows surgeons to access often difficult-to-reach parts of the lung where airways are tiny, reducing the need for major surgery.
Your comprehensive care team of physicians and other health care providers meets regularly to review your case and plan the next steps. Our Norton Cancer Institute Comprehensive Lung Center uses a multidisciplinary team approach. Our center allows you to see your oncologist, surgeon, radiation oncologist, counselor, nutritionist and other members of your care team all in one visit. No other facility in town offers the same seamless cancer care.
Lung cancer treatment will depend on a broad range of factors, including the type of lung cancer, the stage or size of the tumor, your overall health and any specific characterizations of the tumor, such as genetic mutations or protein markers that make the cancer vulnerable to targeted therapies.
In general, there are some common techniques considered for treating lung cancer.
Surgery to remove the tumor and possibly surrounding tissue is typically the first line of treatment for early-stage lung cancers. Some or all of the lung may be removed, often with minimally invasive techniques or robotic-assisted surgery for precision and faster recovery.
Radiation therapy uses high-energy beams to kill cancer cells. Radiation therapy can target disease tissue precisely by converging multiple beams of energy on a single spot. Stereotactic body radiation therapy is a highly focused type of radiation for small tumors.
Radiation may be the first line of treatment for early non-small-cell lung cancer if surgery isn’t an option. It also may be used to shrink a tumor before surgery or after surgery to kill any remaining cancer cells. Radiation is also used in combination with chemotherapy for more advanced cancer.
Chemotherapy drugs kill cancer cells throughout the body and can be used before surgery, after surgery or as the main treatment for advanced non-small-cell lung cancer.
Targeted therapies can be effective in fighting tumors with specific genetic abnormalities. Immunotherapy drugs enlist the body’s immune system to fight cancer cells.
Because it grows more aggressively, small-cell lung cancer often is treated with systemic chemotherapy, often in combination with radiation therapy or certain immunotherapy drugs.