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How Is Lung Cancer Diagnosed?

Lung cancer can be diagnosed in many ways including chest X-ray or CT scan, tissue biopsy and sputum cytology. If any of these tests show early-stage cancer, you may have other scans such as a PET-CT to help determine the stage of the disease and confirm a lung cancer diagnosis. Both CT and PET-CT scans are painless.1

Unfortunately, diagnosing lung cancer can be tricky. Part of the reason being, too many Australians are diagnosed at a later stage – often when it has spread to other parts of the body. This is because many of the symptoms of lung cancer, such as a persistent cough and shortness of breath, are also common in other, less serious conditions.

  1. Cancer Council Australia. Clinical practice guidelines for the prevention and diagnosis of lung cancer. Available at: https://wiki.cancer.org.au/australia/Guidelines:Lung_cancer/Prevention_and_diagnosis/Summary_of_recommendations. Accessed April 2020.

How is lung cancer diagnosed? In my case, my lung cancer was diagnosed through firstly a chest X-ray, then I had some CT scans, and then the PET scan was the one that determined the stage of my lung cancer.

Unfortunately, diagnosing lung cancer can be quite tricky. Part of the reason being, that too many of us are diagnosed at a later stage, often when this has spread to other parts of the body. This is because many of the symptoms of lung cancer such as a persistent cough and shortness of breath are also common in other less serious conditions. Lung Cancer Search and Rescue. Hope in every breath.

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Deb
Deb, 62 VIC
Lung Foundation Australia and the lung cancer community have worked hard to secure an inquiry into the development of a national lung cancer screening program, and we look forward to the Minister for Health releasing the outcomes of this review later this year. In the meantime, you can get involved and help us continue to champion change and hope by connecting with us today.
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