Symptoms & Diagnosis

You may be at risk of lung cancer if you’ve smoked previously or been exposed to secondhand smoke. Exposure to other environmental toxins and harmful substances — like air pollution, radon, asbestos, talc and other chemicals — can also increase your risk. Avoiding these dangerous materials can help lower your chances of developing lung cancer, though it is possible to develop cancer even without these risk factors. If you have been exposed to any of these substances, take our Cancer Risk Assessment to learn more about your risk of developing lung cancer.

While early-stage lung cancer may not cause symptoms, more advanced cancer can feel like or lead to:

• A cough that doesn't go away and gets worse over time
• Constant chest pain
• Coughing up blood
• Shortness of breath, wheezing or hoarseness
• Recurring pneumonia or bronchitis

You know your body better than anyone. If you are feeling any lung cancer symptoms, don’t hesitate to reach out to your doctor so we can learn more about what might be causing them.

If you’re considered at high risk for developing lung cancer, we offer screening services, including a Low Dose CT Lung Cancer Screening and free lung cancer screenings to eligible patients. Other screenings for lung cancer may include a standard chest X-ray and sputum sample (mucus or phlegm you cough up for further study under a microscope). Your doctor may also recommend a bronchoscopy (scope procedure to look into the lungs) or CT scan in some cases.

If your doctor finds a suspicious nodule during one of these tests or if you are at high risk for lung cancer, they may recommend the Lung Nodule Program to closely monitor these growths and recommend action if they become harmful.

Different types of lung cancer require different treatments, which means an accurate diagnosis is crucial. We use advanced imaging techniques to gather precise information to more accurately find the type and stage of your lung cancer. These techniques include:

• Endobronchial ultrasound. This is a procedure where we take tiny tissue samples from lymph nodes in the chest to determine the type and stage of your lung cancer.
• Navigational bronchoscopy. This new technique allows for a biopsy of nodules in the chest that we can’t reach with traditional bronchoscopy. We direct a tiny catheter to a nodule anywhere in the lung during a minimally invasive surgical procedure.

If the results of these exams are abnormal, we refer you for a cancer consultation with an oncologist who has experience treating lung cancer. This expert reviews your test results and medical history to learn more about your diagnosis and form a treatment plan tailored to your needs.

We know learning you have lung cancer can feel scary. That’s why we are committed to seeing you for a cancer consultation as quickly as possible — often within 48 hours — after your diagnosis so we can discuss treatment options, order additional tests and address any questions without delay.