Lung cancer

Lung cancer treatment center in Savannah, Georgia

According to the American Cancer Society, lung cancer is one of the most common cancers diagnosed worldwide. It is also the leading cause of cancer-related deaths for men and women in the U.S.

At the Memorial Health Curtis and Elizabeth Anderson Cancer Center (ACI) in Savannah, we offer dedicated care for patients with a lung cancer diagnosis. Our cancer specialists are committed to combating lung cancer through early detection and comprehensive treatment options.

Lung cancer symptoms

Lung cancer begins in the lungs and can spread to the lymph nodes if left untreated. It is most commonly diagnosed in smokers but can also affect non-smokers. Lung cancer symptoms can include:

• Coughing up blood
• Fatigue
• Frequent coughing
• Hoarseness
• Loss of appetite and weight loss
• Pain in the chest, shoulder or upper back
• Shortness of breath
• Swelling of the face or neck
• Wheezing

Lung cancer risk factors

There are multiple risk factors associated with lung cancer, including:

• Exposure to industrial chemicals, such as arsenic, asbestos, beryllium and uranium
• Exposure to secondhand smoke
• Family history of lung cancer
• Other diagnosed lung disease, such as emphysema, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and tuberculosis
• Radiation to the chest
• Smoking

If you are concerned about one or more of the risk factors above, talk to your doctor and find out the best ways to manage them.

Lung cancer screening services

Our lung cancer screening program helps detect lung cancer early. This is when it is most treatable. Patients who undergo screening receive a low-dose computed tomography (CT) scan of the lungs. The image shows any abnormalities within the lungs that may be cancerous.

There are certain criteria you must meet in order to receive this type of screening, which include:

• 20 pack-year history of smoking or greater
• If you are a current smoker or a former smoker and have quit within the past 15 years
• You are between 50 and 80 years old

If you want to learn more about your eligibility to participate in lung cancer screening, talk to your primary care physician. Your doctor will discuss the benefits of screening and if it is a good choice for you.

What is a pack-year?

A pack-year refers to the number of cigarettes a person smoked per day over the span of a year. For example,

• Smoking one pack per day for 30 years equates to 30 pack-years.
• Smoking two packs a day for 30 years equates to 60 pack-years.
• Smoking a half-pack a day for 30 years equates to 15 pack-years.

Multidisciplinary lung cancer treatment program

Patients with lung cancer who choose our hospital for their cancer care have access to an interdisciplinary team of board-certified cancer specialists. Our care team includes:

• Cardiothoracic surgeons
• Interventional pulmonologists
• Medical oncologists
• Radiation oncologists
• Oncology nurse navigator

Lung cancer treatment options available through the Memorial Health Curtis and Elizabeth Anderson Cancer Institute include:

• Chemotherapy
• Radiation therapy
• Surgery

Minimally invasive bronchoscopy

Our healthcare system is the first in the state of Georgia to offer robot-assisted bronchoscopies. This robotic procedure is used to treat patients with lung nodules and offers numerous benefits, such as:

• Earlier detection of lung cancer with greater accuracy
• Fewer complications compared to traditional biopsy techniques
• Normally an outpatient procedure
• The ability to reach the entire lung safely