Lung cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer death among both men and women. Smoking is the primary cause of most lung cancers, whether directly or indirectly. The risk of a smoker increases with the duration of smoking and the number of cigarettes smoked.

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Signs / Symptoms

Unlike many cancers, lung cancer typically does not show signs and symptoms until the disease has progressed significantly. If one or more of these symptoms occur, see your doctor right away. As mentioned earlier, these symptoms do not occur in the early stages of lung cancer, so prompt action must be taken. These symptoms may include:

• "Smoker's cough" exchange

• spitting blood

• A persistent, new cough

• Headache

• Unwanted weight loss

• Grunt

• chest pain

• Shortness of breath

• hoarseness

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Diagnosis

To diagnose lung cancer, a doctor may use a patient's X-ray or CT scan to look for a mass. The presence of lung cancer can also be revealed when mucus from a patient's productive cough is examined under a microscope. 

Pulmonologists, doctors who focus on respiratory health, may examine the lungs using special procedures. Biopsies, which are a doctor who takes a sample of abnormal cells to test for the presence of cancer, are usually completed to confirm a diagnosis.

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Treatment

Non-invasive and painless proton therapy for lung cancer allows doctors to deliver doses of radiation to specific areas, control the depth of emitted protons and reduce the impact on surrounding tissue. Pen beam scanning capabilities deliver precise radiation doses to targeted areas. As a result, patients experience fewer side effects.

Side effects such as nausea, shortness of breath, fatigue and significant weight loss are common with conventional photon radiation. However, with proton therapy, these side effects are almost eliminated. Many patients have an improved recovery experience.

 

With proton therapy, most of the healthy tissues and critical organs surrounding the cancer are spared from receiving additional radiation. This is a big problem when it comes to radiation therapy for lung cancer because the cancer can be close to your heart, healthy lung, and other critical organs. The unique properties of protons allow proton radiation to better adapt to your cancer and reduce excess radiation to surrounding healthy tissues and organs.