Lung Cancer

When you breathe, air goes through your nose, down your windpipe (trachea), and into the lungs, where it spreads through tubes called bronchi. Most lung cancer begins in the cells that line these tubes. If the cancer started somewhere else in the body and spread to the lungs, it is called metastatic cancer to the lung.

Lung cancer is the deadliest type of cancer for both men and women. Each year, more people die of lung cancer than of breast, colon, and prostate cancers combined.

To learn more about the causes and symptoms of lung cancer, visit the Owensboro Health Health Encylcopedia.

Lung Cancer Screening

Owensboro Health is providing the most sensitive and effective technology for early lung cancer detection, when it is most treatable. Studies show that CT screening increases the chance of lung cancer diagnosis at an early stage—critical to long-term survival. Read more and watch a video about lung cancer screening at Owensboro Health.

Radiosurgery Therapy

The Mitchell Memorial Cancer Center is home to one of the most advanced weapons in the fight against lung cancer, intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). This system allows our specialists to precisely target cancer cells with radiation beams that conform to the shape of the tumor. In a procedure called Stereotactic Body Radiosurgery, physicians can use higher doses of radiation with minimum exposure to healthy tissue.

Minimally Invasive Lung Surgery

Our surgeons use advanced technology to perform robotic-assisted procedures and video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS).

These techniques can result in less pain and potential for complications and allow a more timely initiation of other therapies if needed.

Also, the Owensboro Health cardiothoracic surgical team was the first in the tri-state area to perform port-only lung cancer surgery. Visit the Owensboro Health Cardiothoracic Surgery web page for more information about this procedure.

Radioactive Seed Implants

Another technique offered at Owensboro Health is the implanting of radioactive "seeds" near the lung tumor. These small seeds are implanted in a plastic mesh and will target the tumor with low doses of radiation over an extended period of time. Eventually, the plastic dissolves and the seeds lose their radiation.

If you are a candidate for this procedure, you will work with your oncologist and an Owensboro Health cardiothoracic surgeon to have the surgery performed.

Ready to Quit Smoking?

Smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer, the deadliest form of cancer for both men and women. If you smoke, the best thing you can do for the health of your lungs is to quit. Here are some excellent resources to help you take this important, potentially life-saving step. Quit smoking resources.