Bronchoscopy is a procedure to look directly at the airways in the lungs through a thin, lighted tube (bronchoscope).
A chest ultrasound is an imaging test that uses sound waves to look at the structures and organs in your chest. It can help your healthcare provider see how well your lungs and heart are working.
A computed tomography (CT) scan is a type of imaging test. It uses X-rays and a computer to make images or slices of the body. A CT scan can make detailed pictures of any part of the body, including the bones, muscles, fat, organs, and blood vessels. They are more detailed than regular X-rays.
If your healthcare provider thinks you may have lung cancer, you will need certain exams and tests to be sure.
A biopsy is a test done to remove a tissue sample from the body so it can be examined. A lung biopsy is a test to take a small piece of a lung.
Pleural biopsy is a procedure to remove a tissue sample from the membrane that surrounds the lungs called the pleura.
A mediastinoscopy is a procedure used to examine the mediastinum. This is the space behind the breastbone (sternum). Read on to learn more about the procedure, and what to expect.
Thoracentesis is a procedure to remove fluid or air from around the lungs.
Tests help your healthcare providers learn more about your cancer. They can help show if the cancer has grown into nearby areas or spread to other parts of the body.
Being told you have lung cancer can be scary, and you may have many questions. But you have people on your healthcare team to help.
Lung cancer is cancer that starts in the lungs. It has 2 main types: non-small cell and small cell.
The stage of a cancer is how much and how far the cancer has spread in your body. Your healthcare provider uses exams and tests to find out the size of the cancer and where it is.
All lung cancers can be staged using the TNM system. This system is based on how large the cancer is and how far it has spread.