If the doctor suspects the presence of lung cancer, he will move fast to do further testing to confirm or deny the presence of the disease. Time is of the essence because lung cancer offers a very poor prognosis if it is detected at later stages.
Here is a partial list of what the doctor will look at:
* The patient’s medical history
* Smoking habits. Exposure to second-hand smoke.
* Family history of cancer.
* Exposure to hazardous substances in the workplace or elsewhere.
* Measurement of lung capacity and function.
* Listening for abnormal sounds in the lung using a stethoscope
* Check for swollen lymph nodes in the armpit or neck. Check the midsection for signs of a swollen liver or tumor masses.
* Chest x-ray. This can reveal cancerous masses, but there are also many cases of tumors not showing up on x-rays because of their small size or because they were behind a bone.
* Examination of sputum cells under a microscope. These cells are obtained through deep coughs.
* Lung tissue biopsy.
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