Understanding Your Lung Cancer Journey: A Comprehensive Patient Guide

Introduction

This guide provides essential information about lung cancer diagnosis, treatment options, and support resources to help you navigate your healthcare journey.

Types of Lung Cancer

• Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)
  • Adenocarcinoma
  • Squamous cell carcinoma
  • Large cell carcinoma
• Small cell lung cancer (SCLC)

Diagnosis and Staging

Common Diagnostic Tests

• CT scans
• PET scans
• Bronchoscopy
• Tissue biopsy
• Molecular testing

Understanding Your Stage

Staging helps determine the extent of cancer and guides treatment decisions:

• Stage I: Cancer is localized within the lung
• Stage II: Cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes
• Stage III: Cancer has spread to regional tissues
• Stage IV: Cancer has spread to distant organs

Treatment Options

Surgery

• Lobectomy
• Pneumonectomy
• Video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS)

Radiation Therapy

• External beam radiation
• Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT)

Systemic Treatments

• Chemotherapy
• Targeted therapy
• Immunotherapy

Managing Side Effects

• Fatigue management
• Pain control
• Nutrition support
• Breathing exercises

Support Resources

Medical Support

• Your healthcare team
• Palliative care specialists
• Pulmonary rehabilitation

Emotional Support

• Support groups
• Counseling services
• Patient advocacy organizations

Follow-up Care

• Regular check-ups
• Monitoring tests
• Long-term survivorship care

Emergency Signs

Seek immediate medical attention for:

• Severe shortness of breath
• Chest pain
• Uncontrolled bleeding
• High fever

Additional Resources

• American Cancer Society: www.cancer.org
• LUNGevity Foundation: www.lungevity.org
• National Cancer Institute: www.cancer.gov