By Ho Pak, MD, FACS, Director of Surgical Oncology, Surgical Oncologist, Thoracic Surgeon
Lung cancer is the top cause of cancer-related deaths and ranks as the second most common cancer affecting both men and women in the United States. According to the National Cancer Institute, an estimated 234,500 people in the U.S. will receive a lung cancer diagnosis in 2024. While tobacco smoking is the leading cause, more non-smokers, especially women, are getting lung cancer.
What Are the Risk Factors?
The main risk factors for developing lung cancer may include:
- Smoking tobacco (currently or in the past)
- Exposure to second-hand smoke
- Exposure to radon, asbestos, arsenic, chromium or other chemicals
- Living in an area with air pollution
- A family history of lung cancer infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
- Radiation exposure, including radiation therapy to the breast or chest, and radon exposure. (Note: This is a minor risk factor and the benefits of radiation therapy as a cancer treatment far outweigh the risks.)
What Are Some of the Symptoms of Lung Cancer?
Lung cancer symptoms can vary from person to person. Many people with lung cancer may have no symptoms, but when symptoms are present, they may include:
- Cough that does not go away and gets worse over time
- Chest pain that is constant and often made worse by deep breathing, coughing or laughing
- Arm or shoulder pain
- Coughing up blood or rust-colored phlegm
- Shortness of breath, wheezing, or hoarseness
- Infections like pneumonia or bronchitis that do not go away or come back often
- Swelling of the neck and face
- Loss of appetite and/or weight loss
- Feeling weak or tired
Please remember, these symptoms may occur with other health conditions and are not only linked to lung cancer. If you notice any of these symptoms, it is important to talk with your family doctor about screening and diagnosis options.
Screening and Diagnosis
"Detecting lung cancer early can make treatment much more successful,” said Dr. Ho Pak, Director of Surgical Oncology, Surgical Oncologist and Thoracic Surgeon, with Redeemer Health in partnership with MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper.
Low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) scans are an effective tool for finding lung cancer early. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends annual LDCT screening in adults aged 50 to 80 years who have a 20 pack-year smoking history and currently smoke or have quit within the past 15 years. If you meet these criteria and want to be screened, talk with your doctor about your options. Also check with your insurance provider to see what is covered.
Find Out More
To learn more about the lung cancer screening options available at Redeemer Health, visit redeemerhealth.org/lung-cancer-screening or call 215-938-LUNG (5864).
Experienced Care for Lung Cancer: Close to Home
The Redeemer Health in partnership with MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper lung cancer program maintains nationally recognized accreditation through the Care Continuum Center of Excellence by the GO2 Foundation for Lung Cancer and is recognized as a Screening Center of Excellence by the Lung Cancer Alliance. Click here to learn more.
About the Author: Dr. Ho Pak is a board-certified surgical oncologist and thoracic surgeon specializing in surgical treatment of cancers of the thyroid and parathyroid, lungs, esophagus, liver, stomach, pancreas and soft tissue, such as sarcoma and melanoma. Dr. Pak earned his medical degree from Temple University. He completed his surgical internship and residency at Abington Memorial Hospital, and he completed a fellowship in Surgical Oncology at the National Cancer Institute at the National Institutes of Health.
