Lung Cancer Diagnosis
Doctors typically diagnose lung cancer by looking at a patient’s symptoms, then taking imaging scans of the lungs, and finally extracting a biopsy (tissue or fluid sample). Once you’re diagnosed, you can start treatments to potentially live longer and ease symptoms. Learn more about the steps involved in the diagnosis of lung cancer below.
How Is Lung Cancer Diagnosed?
Lung cancer diagnosis is the process of determining if you have lung cancer based on your symptoms.
If you might have lung cancer, doctors will first take note of your health history, including what symptoms you have, if you smoked, and if you were ever exposed to other possible causes of lung cancer like asbestos.
From there, doctors will order imaging scans to look for possible signs of lung cancer, such as fluid buildup or tumors.
Imaging scans used to diagnose lung cancer include:
- Computed tomography (CT) scans
- Positron emission tomography (PET) scans
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans
- X-rays
If lung cancer is still suspected at this stage, doctors will conduct a biopsy, which involves a review of fluid or tissue samples under a microscope. If malignant (cancerous) cells are detected, the lung cancer diagnosis can be confirmed and you can start treatment.
Get our Free Lung Cancer Guide to learn more about how lung cancer is diagnosed and how to access treatments and compensation.
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What Types of Lung Cancer Can You Be Diagnosed With?
There are two main types of lung cancer and several subtypes you can be diagnosed with. The vast majority of patients will be diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Diagnosis
Up to 85% of lung cancer patients are diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), according to the American Cancer Society (ACS). This type of lung cancer tends to grow and spread to other parts of the body less quickly than other types.
Doctors can also diagnose cases of NSCLC as one of three subtypes.
The subtypes of NSCLC include:
- Adenocarcinoma: This is usually found in the glands of the outer part of the lung. About 40% of NSCLC patients are diagnosed with this type, as noted by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).
- Large cell carcinoma: This can form in any part of the lung and grows and spreads faster than the other subtypes. It’s also the least common NSCLC subtype.
- Squamous cell carcinoma: This is usually found in the middle of the lung next to a bronchus (air tube). Roughly 30% of NSCLC patients develop squamous cell carcinoma, as noted by ASCO.
A diagnosis of NSCLC subtypes can significantly impact your prognosis (health outlook) as some are more aggressive than others.
Small Cell Lung Cancer Diagnosis
Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is less frequently diagnosed than NSCLC. Only 10%-15% of lung cancer patients will be diagnosed with SCLC, as noted by the ACS.
There are two types of small cell lung cancer:
- Small cell carcinoma: This is the most commonly diagnosed type. When viewed under a microscope, these cells are flat and look similar to oats, according to the National Foundation for Cancer Research.
- Combined small cell carcinoma: This type makes up between 2% and 5% of all SCLC diagnoses. It is a mix of small cell and non-small cell lung cancer cells.
SCLC usually affects people with a long history of smoking tobacco and is more aggressive than lung cancer.
The Lung Cancer Diagnosis Process & Tests
A lung cancer diagnosis typically starts with a visit to your family doctor. It’s then followed up by imaging scans and a biopsy. Learn about ways to diagnose lung cancer below.
Lung Cancer Screenings
If you are a current or former smoker, your doctor may recommend getting lung cancer screenings. These can help medical professionals make an early diagnosis of lung cancer before symptoms appear.
A screening involves getting a low-dose computed tomography (CT) scan and is typically recommended yearly for those at risk of lung cancer who aren’t showing symptoms.
“It is so important to know about lung cancer screening. It saves more lives than mammography or colonoscopy.”
— Dr. Loretta Erhunmwunsee, lung cancer specialist
If doctors see possible signs of lung cancer through a screening, they can recommend follow-up tests to diagnose and treat you.
Basic Exams
At your first doctor’s appointment, your provider will do a physical exam and ask about any symptoms you’re experiencing.
Possible symptoms of lung cancer include:
- Chest pain
- Coughing that doesn’t go away or gets worse
- Coughing up blood
- Enlarged lymph nodes in the mediastinum (area between lungs)
- Feeling fatigued all the time
- Repeated bouts of pneumonia
- Weight loss with no known cause
- Wheezing
Your doctor may also ask about certain factors that could mean you’re at a high risk of lung cancer, such as smoking or exposure to asbestos.
Imaging Tests to Detect Lung Cancer Cells
If lung cancer is suspected after an initial appointment, your doctor will likely order one or more imaging scans to get a better look inside your lungs.
Imaging tests to make a lung cancer diagnosis include:
- Chest X-rays: A chest X-ray is usually the first imaging test your doctor will perform. They will order more tests if they see abnormal nodules or masses in your lungs.
- MRI scans: These tests use strong magnets and radio waves to create images of soft tissues in your body. Your doctor may order an MRI scan to see if abnormalities in the lungs have spread to other parts of the body.
- PET-CT scans: PET-CT scans are more likely to show lung tumors and other abnormalities than ordinary X-rays.
Doctors can then recommend a biopsy if they believe you may have lung cancer based on the results of these imaging scans.
Biopsies to Diagnose Lung Cancer
Biopsies are the only way to diagnose lung cancer. Doctors remove a sample of fluid or tissue and look at it under a microscope to see if cancer cells are present.
Types of biopsies for diagnosing lung cancer include:
- Bronchoscopy: Your doctor will insert a bronchoscope (a thin, flexible tube with a camera and a light) into the airways to look at air passages and lungs.
- Fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy: Also called needle biopsy, your doctor will insert a hollow needle into the chest wall to get a small sample.
- Sputum cytology: Sputum is the mucus you cough up from your lungs. Your doctor will take a sputum sample and see if it has cancer cells.
- Thoracentesis: Your doctor can remove fluid from the area around your lung to identify cancer cells.
- Video-assisted thoracoscopy: Your doctor will use a thoracoscope, a thin tube with a camera at the end, to see if cancer has migrated to the spaces between the chest wall and the lungs.
Were you or a loved one recently diagnosed with lung cancer? Get our Free Lung Cancer Guide for help navigating the next steps.
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Tests to Detect Spreading of Lung Cancer Cells
If your doctor finds lung cancer in your body, they might perform more tests to see if the cancer has spread.
Tests for detecting the spread of lung cancer include:
- Endoscopic esophageal ultrasound: This type examines lymph nodes near the esophagus to detect cancer and cancer spread. Your doctor may take biopsies of abnormal lymph nodes during this procedure.
- Mediastinoscopy: A mediastinoscopy uses a lighted tube inserted in front of the windpipe and behind the breastbone to take tissue samples and look at nearby lymph nodes.
- Mediastinotomy: If your doctor can’t reach lymph nodes via mediastinoscopy, they may perform this test instead. The provider will create a slightly larger incision next to the breastbone.
- Scan of the bones: This test uses small amounts of radioactive material to see if tumors have spread to the bones.
Which of these tests will be used, if any, will vary depending on the unique specifics of your lung cancer case.
Other Tests for Lung Cancer and Healthy Lung Function
Doctors often perform lung or pulmonary function tests (PFTs) after diagnosing lung cancer to see how well your lungs are functioning.
These tests are very helpful if your doctors are considering surgery in your case. Patients with poor lung function, such as long-term smokers, may not be able to withstand such surgical procedures.
There are many types of PFTs, including:
- Exercise stress test: This looks at how exercise impacts lung function.
- Lung volume test: This test measures the amount of air you can hold in your lungs and the amount of air that is left behind after you breathe out as much as possible.
- Spirometry: This commonly used PFT measures how quickly and how much you can move air in and out of your lungs.
Doctors may also perform blood tests to get a sense of your overall health in the face of a lung cancer diagnosis.
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Next Steps After Receiving a Lung Cancer Diagnosis
Each lung cancer diagnosis is different. If you’ve been recently diagnosed, make sure to understand the specifics in your case (such as stage and subtype) and which treatments may work best.
Learn more about what to expect after a lung cancer diagnosis below.
1. Understand Your Lung Cancer Stage
Doctors should be able to determine your lung cancer stage shortly after confirming your diagnosis. By knowing this, you’ll be able to make more informed choices about the treatments you wish to undergo.
Lung cancer stages note how far the cancer has spread through the body. Most cases of lung cancer are diagnosed in the later stages, which limits treatment options, but long-term survival may still be possible.
2. Understand Lung Cancer Prognosis
Which type of lung cancer you’re diagnosed with, as well as its stage, plays a big role in predicting your overall prognosis.
Your doctor should be able to give you a lung cancer prognosis shortly after your diagnosis is confirmed. Doctors measure lung cancer prognosis using statistics like survival rates and life expectancies.
The overall 5-year survival rate for lung cancer is 18.6%, which is lower than many other common cancer types. However, some patients have lived for 20 years or more with medical care.
3. Get a Second Opinion to Prevent Lung Cancer Misdiagnosis
Before you start treatment, consider getting a second opinion. This is where another oncologist (cancer specialist) will review your lung cancer diagnosis for accuracy.
The lung cancer misdiagnosis rate is nearly 7%, according to the Cleveland Clinic, meaning that patients could go untreated — or get treated for the wrong condition.
Lung cancer can be misdiagnosed, so a second opinion can help give you peace of mind if the diagnosis comes back the same. In some cases, patients have been given a more optimistic diagnosis and prognosis thanks to second opinions.
4. Explore Lung Cancer Treatment
After your diagnosis is confirmed, you can start to consider your lung cancer treatment options, such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. Treatments offer your best chance of living longer after a lung cancer diagnosis.
The right lung cancer specialists will be able determine the best course of treatment based on your diagnosis.
Get our Free Lung Cancer Guide to explore your lung cancer treatment options after a diagnosis.
- Understand risk factors
- Find top treatments
- Pursue compensation
5. Reach Out to Support Groups
It’s natural to feel angry, guilty, or depressed after receiving your lung cancer diagnosis. Facing lung cancer is often unexpected or overwhelming.
A support group for lung cancer patients can help you cope with your emotions. Being able to speak freely with a supportive group that understands what you’re going through can do wonders for your mental health.
Get Help With Lung Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment
If you suspect you have lung cancer, it’s important to find medical professionals who can diagnose and provide cancer care as soon as possible. If you wait too long, your cancer may spread to other parts of your body, worsening your prognosis.
Lung Cancer Group is here to assist you and your family after a diagnosis.
Our team can help you:
- Explore lung cancer treatments
- Seek compensation to cover expenses
- Pursue justice if asbestos exposure contributed to your diagnosis
Call (877) 446-5767 or get a Free Lung Cancer Guide now to explore your options if you’re facing this cancer.
Lung Cancer Diagnosis FAQs
How serious is a lung cancer diagnosis?
A lung cancer diagnosis is generally quite serious. If you’ve been diagnosed with lung cancer, it’s important to get medical treatment as soon as possible. Otherwise, the cancer could spread quickly.
How to prevent the wrong diagnosis of lung cancer?
To prevent the wrong diagnosis of lung cancer, make sure to request a second opinion. This is where a different doctor will review the results of your diagnostic tests to ensure they are accurate.
Almost 7% of lung cancer patients are misdiagnosed at first, and this can have incredibly negative results on your overall health. A second opinion can give you peace of mind and potentially offer more treatments.
What are the different types of lung cancer you can be diagnosed with?
There are two main types of lung cancer: small-cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer.
Small cell lung cancer is a rare, aggressive cancer that grows and spreads quickly. It usually affects long-term smokers. In contrast, non-small cell lung cancer is more commonly diagnosed and grows and spreads more slowly.
What is the difference between a lung cancer and mesothelioma diagnosis?
While lung cancer and mesothelioma can both be caused by asbestos exposure, they are actually two different forms of cancer.
Lung cancer develops inside the lung, while pleural mesothelioma develops on the lung’s outer lining (the pleura). Mesothelioma can also form in the linings of other parts of the body, such as the abdomen.
It’s much more likely that you’ll be diagnosed with lung cancer than mesothelioma, as the latter is very rare (with only about 3,000 cases diagnosed per year).
Is it possible to receive a lung cancer misdiagnosis?
Yes, lung cancer misdiagnoses are possible. According to the Moffitt Cancer Center, lung cancer can be misdiagnosed as pneumonia, asthma, or other types of cancer like lymphoma.
Because of this, it’s a good idea to get a second opinion to ensure you were properly diagnosed. If lung cancer is misdiagnosed, doctors won’t be able to treat it properly and your prognosis could worsen.
Get our Free Lung Cancer Guide now for help ensuring your diagnosis is accurate and exploring treatments needed to live longer with this cancer.
What tests are done to diagnose lung cancer?
Doctors use a series of tests to diagnose lung cancer, including imaging scans, blood tests, and finally a biopsy. A biopsy is the only diagnostic test used to confirm lung cancer.
If you’re concerned about lung cancer but not yet experiencing symptoms, you can ask your doctor about getting screened. This is a basic step to help check for possible lung cancer tumors.
What is the best diagnostic for lung cancer?
The best diagnostic test for lung cancer is a biopsy since it’s the only way to know for sure if you have lung cancer or not.
The other tests, such as imaging scans, can help check for potential lung cancer signs, but there won’t be a way to know for sure if you have cancer or not.
