Pulmonary Medicine at UNC

Introduction

Lung cancer is the most lethal cancer in the world in both men and women. Over 160,000 people die yearly in the United States. Lung cancer is related to cigarette smoking in 80-90% of cases, although genetic and environmental risk factors play a role as well. Although improvements have been made in treatments for advanced lung cancers, the key to significantly improving outcomes is prevention (smoking cessation) and early detection. Unfortunately, unlike colon cancer, breast cancer, cervical cancer, and prostate cancer, there is currently no reliable test to detect early lung cancers.

What Can I Do?
If you are a current smoker, talk to your physician and family about quitting! Although former smokers also have an elevated risk of lung cancer, the size of this risk begins to noticeably decrease 5 years after quitting, and continues to go down thereafter. If you need further help with quitting, you can contact us!

What Are Signs of Lung Cancer?
Although lung cancer can cause a variety of symptoms, it may also grow silently for a number of months/years. This is why early detection is so difficult. However, you should consult your physician if you have a new cough that persists, blood in your phlegm, unexplained weight decrease or loss of appetite, shortness of breath, or chest pains.

Lung Cancer Treatment at UNC

At UNC, patients are evaluated for possible lung cancer and treated by a team of specialists in the Multidisciplinary Thoracic Oncology Program (MTOP). This team includes pulmonologists, thoracic surgeons, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, and radiologists. The combined expertise of these physicians is used to provide the best possible care for patients who may need testing for lung cancer, or who are found to have lung cancer. In addition, patients may qualify for new treatment protocols undergoing evaluation.
If your doctor would like to refer you to the MTOP clinic, or to learn more, please call 919-966-8128 or FAX 919-966-7843.

Research

The University of North Carolina and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (a division of the National Institutes of Health) are working together to develop a screening tool to detect early lung cancers. These doctors and researchers are using a special LIFE Bronchoscope to examine the inside of the lungs. This instrument uses a special fluorescent light to detect early spots that may be pre-cancerous or an early cancer that has started to grow. This technique is able to detect spots that are not able to be seen by chest x-rays or CAT scans. For more detailed information, see our clinical research study page or contact Dr. M. Patricia Rivera at 919-966-2531.

Links & Additional Information

These links will take you to websites with information on lung cancer.
American Cancer Society. Lung cancer resource center from the ACS.

American Lung Association. Lung cancer info from the ALA.

Virtual Hospital. Physician site. Diagnostic aids, case studies, and other information. Site is sponsored by the University of Iowa.

Creighton Lung Cancer. Review articles, statistics, & list of clinical trials.

ASCO Lung Cancer. Patient guide to lung cancer from the American Society of Clinical Oncologists (ASCO).

Lung Cancer On-Line. Patient site with lots of information about disease and treatment. a non-profit organization.

ALCASE. A patient advocacy group with patient support information.