Lung Cancer

As the leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States, lung cancer claims more lives than breast, ovarian, colon and prostate cancer combined. At Mease Countryside Hospital, we are striving to reduce the prevalence of lung cancer in the Tampa Bay area by delivering as much information as possible about prevention, screenings, and treatment. Our highly experienced, integrated team of experts is committed to providing individualized care using the most advanced technologies available.

Lung Cancer Screenings and Diagnostic Testing in Safety Harbor, Florida

Smoking is by far the leading cause of lung cancer, though exposure to secondhand smoke, radon, asbestos or other chemicals may also increase your risk of developing this disease. Your doctor may suggest screening tests such as chest X-rays or CT scans if he or she feels you are at an increased risk for lung cancer. If these imaging scans reveal abnormalities in your lungs – pulmonary nodules, lung masses or enlarged lymph nodes – the following tests available at Mease Countryside Hospital may be used to confirm a diagnosis:

• Bronchoscopy
• Endoscopic esophageal ultrasound
• Lung needle biopsy
• Lymph node biopsy
• Mediastinoscopy
• Open lung biopsy
• Pleural needle biopsy

Treatments for Lung Cancer at Mease Countryside Hospital

Mease Countryside Hospital features a highly specialized team of medical oncologists who can recommend the best forms of targeted drug therapy and/or chemotherapy to meet your unique treatment needs. Chemotherapy can help to slow the cancer’s growth, prevent it from spreading, or kill cancer cells that have spread from the lungs to other parts of the body. Targeted therapy is the use of medication that specifically targets the proteins and enzymes that allow cancer cells to grow. Anti-angiogenesis drugs, for instance, help to prevent the formation of blood vessels that keep cancer cells alive. Your lung cancer care team at Mease Countryside Hospital will not only discuss both types of treatment with you, but also explain what side effects may occur and how best to manage them.

If surgery is necessary, either on its own or in conjunction with chemotherapy or targeted drug therapy, our renowned surgeons are highly trained in cryosurgery (cryoablation), extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP), segmentectomy, wedge resection and minimally invasive procedures such as endoscopic stent placement.

For a referral to a board-certified oncologist, please call the BayCare Customer Service Center at (727) 462-7500 or find a specialist near you.