Lung cancer care

Early detection can increase lung cancer survival rate by up to 20% in high risk populations. That’s why our team at Dignity Health Medical Foundation provides the advanced screenings and diagnostics needed to start down the road to healing. Our dedicated lung cancer specialists provide compassionate care that is tailored to each patient, wherever they may be on their cancer journey. 

Our multidisciplinary team provides innovative care for all types of lung cancer, using leading research and state of the art technology to deliver precise diagnoses. We offer a range of diagnostic services, including low-dose CT screenings, that are essential to early detection. Lung cancer patients can receive holistic and integrated treatment with precision medicine.

Recognize the symptoms

• Changes in appetite

• Chest pain with breathing, coughing, and laughing

• Coughing up blood

• Fatigue

• Hoarseness

• Infections that won’t go away or keep returning

• Persistent cough

• Shortness of breath

• Unusual weight loss

• Wheezing

Are you a candidate for lung screening?

The United States Preventative Services Task Force released guidelines reaffirming the benefits of lung cancer screening for those who meet the following criteria:

• Age: 50 to 77 with no signs or symptoms of lung cancer
• Smoking history: Active or former smoker with a 20 pack year history (A "pack year" is the equivalent of one pack of cigarettes per day, per year. One pack per day for 30 years or two packs per day for 15 years would both be 30 pack years.)
• Active smoker: If you are an active smoker, we strongly urge you to enter a smoking cessation program
• Former smoker: If you are a former smoker, you must have quit within the past 15 years.

Benefits of lung screenings

• Early detection: Lung screening, especially with low-dose CT (LDCT) scans, can detect lung cancer in its early stages, often before symptoms appear. Early detection increases the likelihood of successful treatment and improves survival rates.
• Increased survival rates: Studies have shown that lung cancer screening reduces the risk of death from lung cancer by identifying tumors when they are smaller and more treatable.
• Less invasive treatment options: Cancers caught early often require less aggressive treatments, which may include localized surgery instead of extensive chemotherapy or radiation.
• Peace of mind: For high-risk individuals, regular screening can provide reassurance that their lungs are being monitored, helping to alleviate anxiety about potential health issues.
• Identification of other lung conditions: Screening can sometimes uncover other lung-related conditions, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or infections, allowing for earlier management.

What to expect when getting your lungs screened

Ask to speak with your primary care physician about the pros and cons of screening. If you decide to proceed, they will order a CT lung screening exam. A CT scan is brief and painless.

During the scan:

• We position you on the CT table.
• You need to hold your breath for about eight to 15 seconds.
• The scan takes less than a minute.
• There is no injection of intravenous (IV) contrast involved.

Our state-of-the-art spiral CT scanners produce a low dose of X-rays with about the same amount of radiation as an average American receives in six months from natural background radiation by living on planet Earth, or from flying from the East to the West coast.

Understanding the results of a CT scan

An initial positive result does not necessarily mean that you have lung cancer. Frequently, nodules your doctor may have detected on the screening test may turn out to be benign (noncancerous).

If your exam detects a nodule or nodules that raise concern, we will:

• Recommend a second type of diagnostic test.
• Advise you to make an appointment with a lung specialist.
• Recommend that you return for follow-up scans in six-month or yearly intervals, for up to two years, to ensure the detected nodule does not enlarge.

If the nodules are large, you may require immediate additional diagnostic tests and procedures.