HealthInfo Canterbury
Diagnosing & treating lung cancer
If your doctor thinks you might have lung cancer, they will arrange some tests.
These may include:
- an X-ray of your chest
- blood tests.
They may also refer you to a respiratory physician, a specialist who is an expert in lung problems. Further tests with the respiratory physician may include:
- A CT scan of your chest. This is a special type of X-ray that produces very detailed images of inside your body.
- A bronchoscopy. This involves passing a tube with a small camera into your airways so the doctor can see the internal lining of your lung.
- A fine needle aspirate. A needle is placed into the abnormal part of your lung to take a sample. A CT scan is done at the same time to make sure the needle is placed accurately. The needle and the sample are then removed, and the sample is sent for analysis.
Treating lung cancer
There are several treatments for lung cancer including chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery.
Your treatment will depend on:
- the type of lung cancer
- where it is
- how large it is
- if it has spread.
Early non-small-cell lung cancer is usually treated with surgery. A combination of radiation treatment and chemotherapy may also be needed.
Small-cell lung cancer is usually treated with chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
This Cancer Society page has more information about lung cancer treatments.
Written by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Page created June 2021.
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