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If you were asked to name the leading cause of cancer-related deaths, would you think of lung cancer? You should because lung cancer kills more men and women than any other form of cancer. According to the American Lung Association, early detection is rated as the best hope for survival. That is why the Comprehensive Cancer Center (CCC) at Desert Regional Medical Center utilizes some of the latest advancements in screening technology, including the new low-dose computerized tomography (CT) scan.

“CT scan technology enables physicians and researchers to more effectively monitor a patient’s lungs and chest in hopes of catching the cancer in its early stages,” explains Elber Camacho, MD, Medical Director of  the Comprehensive Cancer Center. “The earlier we catch the cancer, the better chance we have to remove it and prevent it from spreading any further in the body.”

Common signs and symptoms of lung cancer may include:

• A cough that doesn’t go away and gets worse over time
• Repeated problem with pneumonia or bronchitis
• Coughing up blood
• Chest pain
• Shortness of breath, wheezing or hoarseness
• Loss of appetite or weight loss

If a person is diagnosed with lung cancer, the Comprehensive Cancer Center offers a multi-disciplinary approach to the management and treatment of lung cancer. A variety of treatment options are available including surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy and photodynamic therapy. Treatment advancements include three-dimensional radiation therapy and minimally invasive surgeries. The type of treatment each patient receives depends on several different factors such as the type of lung cancer, the size, location, extent of the tumor and the general health of the individual.

For more information on the Comprehensive Cancer Center, call (760) 416-4873.