Early Detection Vital in Fighting Lung Cancer
The Four Stages of Lung Cancer
Lung cancer is divided into two types: small cell and non-small cell. Small cell is found almost exclusively in smokers and is very aggressive. Non-small cell accounts for about 80 percent of lung cancers in the United States. The four stages of lung cancer are:
- Stage 1
The cancerous tumor is small and self-contained. The five-year survival rate is 60 percent to 90 percent, depending largely on the type of lung cancer. - Stage 2
The tumor is slightly larger and has spread to the surrounding tissue. The five-year survival rate is 40 percent to 60 percent. - Stage 3
The cancer has spread into the chest. The five-year survival rate is 25 percent to 40 percent. - Stage 4
The lung cancer has metastasized (spread) into other organs. Only 10 percent of people with Stage 4 cancer survive five years.
Updated November 2002 - Lung cancer is one of the most common and deadly forms of cancer in the United States. Nearly 170,000 new cases are diagnosed each year, and an estimated 155,000 people die of it annually.
The reason for the high mortality rate is that lung cancer rarely causes symptoms until it has reached an advanced stage. Because of this, only half of those diagnosed qualify for surgery to treat the disease.
Screening is the key to early detection of lung cancer. The sooner the disease is found, the better the chances of successfully treating it. A minimally invasive procedure available at Memorial Healthcare System makes diagnosis and treatment much easier than previous screening methods.
"Video-assisted thoracoscopy (VAT) is performed routinely around the country, with Memorial Healthcare System the leader in South Florida," says Kenneth Lee, MD, thoracic surgeon on the medical staff at Memorial Regional Hospital, Memorial Hospital West and Memorial Hospital Pembroke. "This technique is very effective for diagnosing and treating lung diseases."
Saving Lives
It all begins with a suspicious spot on a chest X-ray or computerized tomography (CT) scan. Cells are drawn and examined for cancer. VAT allows doctors to extract samples from a very tiny spot, which might turn out to be cancer, in an early, treatable stage.
"By making one to three small incisions less than 1/2 inch in diameter, we can see the lesion and remove it along with a margin of normal tissue," Dr. Lee says.
VAT is also used to treat fluid around the lungs, a common complication of lung, breast, ovarian, prostate and other cancers.
"The procedure involves making a 1-centimeter incision," Dr. Lee says. "Through the incision, we remove the fluid and blow talc evenly throughout the thoracic cavity. This causes the lung to stick to the chest wall, blocking fluid from leaking out. This treatment is not a cure, but it does prevent the patient from coming back every couple months to drain fluid buildup."
Afterward, surgeons use a "pain ball" to bathe the chest in local anesthesia for a couple days. With smaller and more flexible chest tubes and less postoperative pain, patients can be out of bed the day after surgery - an important step to get the lungs working and to prevent pneumonia.
"Most of our lung cancer patients go home by day four," Dr. Lee says. "They have minimal pain and a better cosmetic result."
Memorial Healthcare System sponsors many support groups for cancer patients and family members. For a complete list, contact information, meeting details and other information, see our list of Support Groups.
Because smoking has been linked to lung cancer, smoking prevention and smoking cessation classes are offered at several facilities throughout the healthcare system. For a schedule and other information, please call (954) 265-5800. For referral to a doctor near you, call the Memorial Healthcare System Physician Referral Service at (800) 944-DOCS.