Lung cancer is one of the most common cancers in both men and women. Beginning as a growth of abnormal cells, the cancer grows to form a tumor, interfering with lung function. Lung cancer is treated through surgery, chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Those who smoke cigarettes have an increased risk for lung cancer.

Lung cancer screening, diagnosis and treatment in Las Vegas, Nevada

MountainView Hospital offers specialized experts and advanced procedures for the screening, diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer — all focused on enhancing your quality of life. If diagnosed with lung cancer, we provide comprehensive cancer care to provide continued support throughout your journey.

Types of lung cancer

Lung cancer is categorized into two types:

  • Small cell lung cancers — a fast growing type of lung cancer that is usually caused by smoking
  • Non-small cell lung cancers — generally a less aggressive form of lung cancer, which includes:
    • Adenocarcinomas
    • Large cell carcinomas
    • Squamous cell carcinomas

Signs and symptoms of lung cancer

Diagnosing lung cancer requires screening by a medical professional, however, these are the most common lung cancer symptoms:

  • A cough that doesn't go away and gets worse over time
  • Constant chest pain
  • Coughing up blood
  • Frequent lung infections such as bronchitis or pneumonia
  • Hoarseness
  • Shortness of breath or wheezing

Signs of lung cancer tend to not show up until the disease is in later stages. However, early detection is still possible with screenings and by talking to your doctor about any potential symptoms you experience.

Lung cancer screenings

We offer noninvasive, low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) lung cancer screenings for patients who may be at risk of lung cancer. LDCT is designed to catch cancer in its early stages. Those at high risk who are routinely screened are more likely to detect lung cancer at an earlier, more treatable stage.

The low dose CT screening is painless, only takes a few minutes and exposes the patient to five times less radiation compared to a regular CT scan.

Who should get lung screening?

Talk to your primary care physician about a screening test if you match the following criteria:

  • People between 50 and 77 years old
  • People who have at least a 20 pack-year smoking history
    • Pack years calculation: (number of packs smoked per day) x (number of years smoking) = pack-year smoking history
  • People who are either still smoking or have quit smoking within the last 15 years and are asymptomatic, meaning they have no symptoms of lung cancer

A CT scan requires a physician's order. Please talk with your doctor if you are interested in having this screening.

As MountainView Hospital's outpatient imaging center, Red Rock Radiology offers convenient appointments to meet your needs. To schedule an appointment for a low-dose CT Lung Screening, call (855) 476-1268.

For referring physician offices, please fax orders to (866) 477-6592 or visit Red Rock Radiology.

Red Rock Radiology is located at 7130 Smoke Ranch Rd., Las Vegas, NV 89128.

Robotic bronchoscopy

MountainView Hospital offers robotic-assisted bronchoscopy, a new technology allowing for earlier detection of lung cancer with greater accuracy. Prior to this innovative technology, nodule location and size combined with technology limitations made early stage diagnosis of lung cancer challenging.

This minimally invasive procedure is safer than CT-guided lung biopsy and unlike a traditional bronchoscopy, the robotic platform gives the physician the ability to obtain tissue samples of small and hard-to-reach nodules in the lung to determine an accurate and timely diagnosis. The ability to diagnose these cancers at earlier and begin treatment promises to increase chances of survival.

Lung cancer treatment

After your doctor makes a diagnosis and determines the extent of the cancer, they will suggest a treatment plan. Treatment and surgical options for the most common lung cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, can vary.

Patients may have surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy or a combination of treatments.

During lung cancer surgery, your surgeon may remove any of the following areas:

  • A small section of your lung with the tumor and a margin of healthy tissue (wedge resection)
  • A larger portion of the lung, but not an entire lobe (segmental resection)
  • An entire lobe of one lung (lobectomy)
  • An entire lung (pneumonectomy)

The amount of tissue/lung removed will depend on the stage of the cancer.

A minimally invasive option for lung cancer patients facing lobectomy is surgeon-led robotic-assisted surgery.