Lung Diseases
Lung diseases are some of the most common medical conditions people suffer from in the United States. Symptoms of lung disease may include: cough, shortness of breath, coughing up blood, pain in chest, shoulder, upper back or arm, wheezing, fatigue, repeated pneumonia or bronchitis, loss of appetite, hoarseness, swelling of the face or neck. Many of these symptoms are similar to other common illnesses, but if a symptom persists, it is important to be examined by your primary care physician.
Lung Cancer
If lung cancer is confirmed, it usually will fall into one of two categories:
- Non-small cell lung cancer – is the most common form of lung cancer (approximately 85% of all cases fall into this category). Within this category, the main forms include:
- Adenocarcinoma
- Squamous cell carcinoma
- Large cell carcinoma
These forms of lung cancer are further categorized into one of four stages depending on the size of the tumor and if and where the cancer has spread.
- Small cell lung cancer – cells are much smaller and tend to spread quicker to other parts of the body. It is staged as limited, extensive or recurrent.
Treatment for lung cancer will often include surgery and either/or chemotherapy and radiation therapy. In order to develop the best possible treatment plan, each patient’s case is presented to a multi-disciplinary board of cancer experts in medical oncology, radiation oncology, radiology, pathology and thoracic surgery. Additional oncologists are teleconferenced into these meetings from Brigham and Women’s hospital and Dana Farber Cancer Institute. Collaboration among these highly experienced specialists produces the best possible treatment plan for each patient.
Most often the patient will undergo surgery first, followed by chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy. The size of the tumor and how wide-spread it is will determine which surgery is warranted:
- Wedge – to remove small section of lung
- Segment – to remove a larger portion but not the entire lobe
- Lobectomy – to remove entire lobe of one lung
- Pneumonectomy – to remove entire lung
When you are discharged from the hospital after surgery, you will be given a follow-up appointment with your thoracic surgeon. You will also be given discharge instructions, any prescriptions you may need and you will also follow-up with your oncologist for treatment at the Cancer Center.
Lung Cancer Screening Program
Milford Regional has developed a comprehensive lung cancer screening program (done with low-dose computed tomography) to detect the disease early when it is most treatable.
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Benign Lung Disease
Lung diseases that are not malignant but may be referred to a thoracic surgeon for treatment includes:
Benign tumors of the lung
Pulmonary cysts
Emphysema
Benign strictures
Effusion (accumulation of fluid in the chest)
Pneumothorax (collapsed lung)
Sarciodosis
Lung infections
Treatments for benign lung disease, depending on the condition, may include:
Surgery to remove tumors or cysts
Drainage procedures
Lung volume reduction (for emphysema)
Stent insertion for strictures
Simple surveillance
