BIOPSY RESULTS

Whether you have an open surgical or a minimally-invasive lung biopsy, the tissue analysis will show if a lung lesion or abnormality is cancerous or non-cancerous. The lung biopsy results are generally returned within a couple of days of the procedure. Some hospitals have labs on-site so that an immediate diagnosis of the tissue can be made.

Understand that waiting for lung biopsy results can be stressful. Remember that because many lung lesions are benign, it is important to ask your doctor about using the inReach System when diagnosing your lung lesion. It is minimally invasive, it can be used in a broad range of patients and there is no inpatient surgery required.⁹ Talk to your doctor to learn more about the inReach System.

Benign Lung Biopsy Diagnosis
The lung biopsy diagnosis may reveal that a lung lesion is benign. That is great news. Your doctor will advise you on the proper course of action for your benign lung lesion.

Lung Cancer Diagnosis
It is never easy to prepare yourself for the “C” word. But a lung cancer diagnosis is not a death sentence. In fact, if caught early, your chances of surviving lung cancer are good. In a recent study published by the International Early Lung Cancer Action Program, investigators determined that lung lesions diagnosed in Stage I resulted in a patient survival rate of 88% at 10 years.¹⁰

Types of Lung Cancer

Lung cancers are classified into two types: non-small cell lung cancers and small cell lung cancers.

Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC) are the most common form of lung cancer, accounting for approximately 85% of all lung cancers.¹¹ In addition, there are three sub-forms of NSCLC that are based on different forms of cell make-up. These are:

Adenocarcinomas: this type accounts for approximately 40% of all NSCLC.¹¹ It often forms in the outer or peripheral regions of the lungs and is most often associated with smoking.
Squamous cell carcinoma: this type accounts for 25% to 30% of all NSCLC. It too, is most often linked to smoking and usually forms near the bronchus of the lungs.¹¹
Large cell carcinoma: this type accounts for 10% to 15% of all NSCLC. It can start in any part of the lung and spreads quickly.¹¹

Small-Cell Lung Cancer
Small cell lung cancers (SCLC) account for approximately 15% of all lung cancers. SCLC is strongly tied to cigarette smoking and is the most aggressive and rapidly growing of all lung cancers.¹¹

Today, there are many smokers and former smokers who are at risk for developing both benign and malignant lung lesions.^5,12

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Lung Cancer Treatment Options

Before you begin any treatment, your doctor will discuss the available treatment options for you. The type of lung cancer treatment or treatments recommended will be based on the stage and type of cancer.

Surgery
If you have a form of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), surgery may be recommended to remove the cancer and some of the tissue around it. With small cell lung cancer (SCLC), however, surgery is rarely recommended.¹³

If you have surgery, there are three common forms of surgery performed:

wedge resection: only part of a lobe (section) of the lung is removed.
lobectomy: an entire lobe of the lung is removed.
pneumonectomy: an entire lung is removed.

For people who cannot have surgery because of lung disease or other health conditions, a form of laser surgery may be used to relieve symptoms.

Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy uses high-energy rays to shrink or kill the cancer cells. External radiation is the most common form of radiation therapy and it comes from outside of the body. It may be the main form of treatment for some patients with lung cancer and is often a treatment option for patients who are not surgical candidates. For other patients, it is used as an additional treatment after surgery to kill potentially cancerous areas that could not be removed or seen during surgery.

Brachytherapy is another form of radiation therapy where radioactive materials are placed into or near the tumor.

Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy uses anticancer drugs given either through an artery or by mouth. The anticancer drugs enter the bloodstream and flow throughout the entire body, making this a treatment option for those whose cancer has spread to other organs of the body.

Every person’s situation is unique. Therefore, it is often a good idea to get a second opinion about your treatment options. A second opinion may provide you with additional information and help you better understand the treatment plan you choose.

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