Lung Cancer Care & Treatment in Quad Cities

Lung Cancer

There are two different forms of lung cancer, small cell and non-small cell that grow differently, so they need to be treated as such. Lung cancer is responsible for 29 percent of cancer deaths which makes it the leading cause of cancer in both men and women. While it is the deadliest form of cancer in the United States, it is also the most preventable.

What Risk Factors are Involved with Lung Cancer?

• Cigarette Smoking
• Secondhand smoke
• Excessive alcohol use
• Radon exposure
• Environmental factors
• Family history

Symptoms

Symptoms of lung cancer tend only to show up when the cancer is in it's later stages. Individual symptoms will vary depending on the stage of cancer and where the cancer has metastasized. If any of these symptoms occur, it is important to contact the experts at UnityPoint Health - Trinity for guidance and treatment options.

• Severe cough that won't go away

• Coughing blood

• Chest Pains

• Wheezing

• Unexplained weight loss

• Persistent headaches 

Prevention

The leading cause of lung cancer is cigarette smoking, so it's no wonder that quitting smoking is the first item on our list for preventing this deadly disease. Although it is the best thing you can do to lessen your chances of lung cancer, it is not the only step you can take.

• Quit smoking - Even if you've been a heavy smoker most of your life, quitting smoking can significantly lessen your chances of getting lung cancer. 

• Avoid secondhand smoke - inhaling secondhand smoke is just as deadly as smoking a cigarette directly. Avoid smoking areas or cars in which people are smoking. 

• Protect yourself from carcinogens at work - Depending on your line of work, if you are advised to wear a gas mask to avoid chemicals, do so. These precautionary measures are set up by your workplace to help you. 

• Test your home for radon - Have your home's radon levels checked to see if a mitigation needs installation. A mitigation system will help to remove radon gases from your home.

Early detection is critical when trying to stop the spread of lung cancer. Because symptoms don't tend to show themselves until the latest stages, it is important to be proactive about your health from the beginning. UnityPoint Health Trinity's Lung Cancer Screening Program has been successful in helping identify early stages of lung cancer in patients with no signs of symptoms. If found in its earlier stages, lung cancer treatment sees a significantly higher success rate. Our experts working in Quad Cities' Cancer Center are available to help educate and treat the different forms of lung cancers.