Anyone can develop lung cancer, but you may be more at risk if:
- you are over 50 years of age
- you smoke tobacco
- you have been exposed to chemicals such as asbestos, silica, and diesel exhaust fumes
- you have been exposed to radon gas
- you live in an area with high levels of air pollution
- you have another lung disease, like COPD
- you have a family history of lung cancer
Lung cancer symptoms include:
- persistent coughing
- breathlessness
- coughing up blood, or phlegm with blood in it
- an ache or pain in the chest or shoulder
- persistent chest infections
- unexplained fatigue
- loss of appetite and weight loss
Many people do not display symptoms in the early stages of lung cancer.
If your consultant identifies a concern during your lung cancer screening, you will be advised to undergo a test called an endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS).
EBUS is used to investigate abnormalities within the lungs. It can help confirm the presence of cancer, the size of the cancer, and whether it has spread (metastasised) to other areas of the body.
The test uses a small, flexible tube called a bronchoscope, which is fitted with an ultrasound probe. The bronchoscope is guided into the airways through your mouth or nostril. If required, your consultant will also be able to take a tissue sample (biopsy) to be tested at a lab.
EBUS is usually carried out under local anaesthetic with an optional light sedation to help you relax. If you are very anxious, it can also be carried out under general anaesthetic.
A chest X-ray is usually the initial test used to look for suspected lung cancer.
If a tumour is present, it presents as a white-grey mass on the scan. However, it is impossible to differentiate between lung cancer and other conditions, so further tests are required for a full diagnosis to be made.
A special type of CT scan, called a CT scan with contrast, is often used for diagnosing lung cancer.
For a CT scan with contrast, you will be injected with a contrasting agent, which helps create highly detailed images of your lungs. Sometimes a biopsy is performed at the same time as a CT.
This type of scan may be used after you are diagnosed with lung cancer, as it helps your consultant assess where the active cancer cells are and the best method of treatment.
You may be recommended an MRI scan if it is suspected that your cancer has spread.
Non-small-cell lung cancer
If you are diagnosed with non-small-cell lung cancer, your consultant will decide what stage you are at using a staging system called TNM:
- Tumour – the size of the tumour
- Node – the location of cancer cells in the lymph nodes
- Metastasis – whether your cancer has spread.
Small-cell lung cancer
Small-cell lung cancer also uses the TNM staging system, but the most clinically useful definition is:
- Limited disease – where the cancer is only in the lung, or nearby lymph nodes, and can be treated with radiotherapy
- Extensive disease – where the cancer has spread to further-away lymph nodes, or other areas of the body, and cannot be treated with radiotherapy.
Private lung cancer consultants in London
Showing 1-6 of 18
Dr Crispin Hiley
Consultant Clinical Oncologist
Clinical oncology
Dr James Wilson
Consultant Clinical Oncologist
Clinical oncology, Lung, Skin
Mr Marco Scarci
Consultant Thoracic Surgeon
Cardiothoracic surgery, Thoracic surgery
Dr Dionysis Papadatos-Pastos
Consultant Medical Oncologist
Medical oncology, Lung, Thymus, Mesothelioma
Professor Michael Seckl
Consultant Medical Oncologist
Medical oncology
Dr Brian O’Connor
Consultant in Respiratory Medicine
Respiratory medicine
Dr Jaymin Morjaria
Consultant in Respiratory Medicine
Respiratory medicine
Miss May Al-Sahaf
Consultant Thoracic Surgeon
Cardiothoracic surgery, Thoracic
Mr Andrew Chukwuemeka
Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon
Cardiothoracic surgery
Professor Christopher Nutting
Consultant Clinical Oncologist
Clinical oncology
Dr Alex Martin
Consultant Oncologist
Clinical oncology, Lung, Urology
Dr Anne Mier
Consultant in Respiratory Medicine
Respiratory medicine
Dr John Conibear
Consultant Clinical Oncologist
Clinical oncology, Breast, Lung
Dr Jason Chow
Consultant Medical Oncologist
Medical oncology, Hepatobiliary, Upper GI
Dr Doraid Alrifai
Consultant Medical Oncologist
Medical oncology, Urology, Lung
Mr Simon Jordan
Consultant Thoracic Surgeon
Cardiothoracic surgery, Thoracic surgery
Dr Stephen Mangar
Consultant Clinical Oncologist
Clinical oncology
