Nuclear Oncology

More than one in four cases of cancer diagnosed involve lung and lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer deaths more common among men and women in the United States. In 2010 occurred about 157,000 lung cancer deaths, exceeding the combined number of deaths from breast, prostate and colon.

At the same time, it is possible that many lung cancer cases are preventable. Inhalation of cancer-causing substances such as snuff smoke can cause changes in lung tissue shortly after exposure, called precancerous changes. However, cancer itself is typically develops over many years, and if detected early enough, usually can be successfully treated with various treatments.

Treatment Options

Pretreatment evaluation

* Before treatment, a biopsy is usually performed to determine if the patient has cancer, and if so, to determine what kind.
* Tests are recommended to determine the stage of tumor. These results usually include blood tests and imaging. The imaging usually includes computed tomography (CT) scan of the chest, and may include an examination of the bone scan or PET / CT. Treatment options and outcomes of treatment depend on tumor stage.