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Lung Cancer

Unmatched expertise in lung cancer treatment.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the United States, and diagnosis can be overwhelming and frightening. The lung cancer team at Henry Ford Cancer Institute provides compassionate, expert care to more than 500 patients each year.

Our thoracic team and our colleagues at the Henry Ford Center for Lung Health offer unmatched expertise in lung cancer. We offer you:

  • The only comprehensive bronchoscopy and interventional pulmonology program in Michigan.
  • One of Michigan’s most active lung cancer clinical trials programs
  • Low- to no-cost lung cancer screening program for current and former tobacco smokers
  • Advanced therapies that we helped develop, including the first two lung cancer immunotherapy drugs, nivolumab (Opdivo®) and pembrolizumab (Keytruda®)
  • Expertise in the first Edge® dedicated stereotactic radiation unit in North America, on which we have trained more than 200 doctors around the world
  • The world’s first FDA-approved combined MRI and linear accelerator (ViewRay MRIdian® Linac), which tracks tumors in real time
Request Information on Clinical Trials

If you were diagnosed with lung cancer we may have a clinical trial for you.

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Lung cancer treatment at Henry Ford Cancer Institute

Your treatment for lung cancer may include:

  • Interventional pulmonology: We use a bronchoscope, which is a fiber-optic tool that lets doctors see into your airways to diagnose or treat lung conditions, remove tumors, and widen the airways. Learn more.
  • Targeted therapy through our our Precision Medicine program, including NGS and FISH to detect genetic mutations in patients who have advanced lung adenocarcinoma
  • Immunotherapy
  • Chemotherapy
  • Radiation therapy
  • Minimally invasive lung cancer surgery
  • Ablation, a minimally invasive procedure that cuts, burns, freezes, or clots tumors

Therapeutic techniques to ease lung cancer symptoms

We offer advanced treatments to help you breathe easier:

  • Airway management procedures performed without incisions, either through your mouth or using lasers and other techniques to remove tumors and other blockages, control bleeding or repair injury to the airways
  • Airway stenting to open,  or keep open, closed airways
  • Photodynamic therapy (PDT), which uses laser light along with a special drug to kill cancer cells without surgery
  • What are the different types of lung cancer?

    Cancer is an abnormal process in the body where clusters of atypical cells begin to multiply out of control. The type of cell where the abnormal changes originate dictates the type of cancer. Lung tumors are made up of clusters of cancerous, or abnormal, cells. As these cells multiply, they can affect the way your lungs work and how well you breathe.

    A cancer that begins in one organ may eventually affect other organs. Cancer cells can travel from the original tumor to other parts of the body, carried in blood or lymph, a fluid found in the lungs. This process is called metastasis.

    Treatment options depend on the type of lung cancer and whether it has spread. Lung cancer is separated into two main categories:

    • Non-small-cell: About 85 percent of all lung cancers are non-small-cell. This group includes squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma and neuroendocrine tumors.
    • Small-cell: This type of cancer can grow quickly.

    Other types of cancers can spread to the lungs. The proper diagnosis and staging is our highest priority at Henry Ford. We work aggressively with all patients, from diagnosis to treatment, to treat cancer accurately and quickly.

  • Am I at risk for lung cancer?

    Smoking is the No. 1 cause of lung cancer. If you do smoke or have smoked, you may be a candidate for lung cancer screening.

    Unfortunately, you may not notice any signs of lung cancer until the disease is advanced. Some symptoms may include:

    • Coughing up blood
    • Persistent cough that won’t go away
    • Shortness of breath
    • Unexplained weight loss
  • How do doctors diagnose lung cancer?

    If doctors suspect lung cancer, they may order one or more of the following diagnostic tests:

    • Imaging tests: These tests take pictures of the inside of the body. Doctors may use chest X-rays, computed tomography (CT) scans, positron emission tomography (PET) scans or bone scans to help find cancer. Imaging test results also guide your doctors’ treatment decisions, based on how the cancer is changing.
    • Biopsy: To diagnose cancer, we must perform a biopsy — sending a tissue sample from your lung for further testing. If something in the lung looks suspicious, the doctor may recommend this test. Many minimally invasive methods for sampling tissue are quick and painless, including bronchoscopy and interventional pulmonology.
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