Article and Video CATEGORIES

Cancer Journey

Search By

ABOUT
Denise Brock

Denise has over 30 years of varying experience in the healthcare arena.  In August 2009 she joined The Global Resource for Advancing Cancer Education as one of its first employees.  She has grown with the organization and now oversees the operational movement of programs, efficiency, and effectiveness within the organization, as well as the daily processes and functions.  

 

Lung Cancer Video Library - Spanish Language: Video #10 How a Lung Cancer Diagnosis is Made
¿Cómo se realiza el diagnóstico de cancer de pulmón?
Author
Denise Brock
 

For our 10th video in the GRACE Spanish Lung Cancer Library, Dr. Brian Hunis, Medical Director, Head and Neck Cancer Program, Memorial Cancer Institute, Miami, Florida, joined GRACE to discuss the basics of Lung Cancer for Spanish-speaking patients and caregivers, in this video Dr. Hunis reviews how a lung cancer diagnosis is made. 

 


 

TRANSCRIPTS - Spanish and English
 
 

¿Cómo se realiza el diagnóstico de cancer de pulmón?

El diagnóstico de cancer de pulmón, por lo general, comienza con un paciente que tiene algún tipo de anormalidad en un estudio de diagnóstico por imágenes, por ejemplo: una placa de tórax o una tomografía computada de tórax. El paciente puede o no tener síntomas, porque estos son ciertamente inespecíficos como la tos, cansancio, baja de peso etc.

Cuando un paciente tiene una lesión que es sospechosa para cáncer de pulmón, lo que se necesita hacer es una biopsia para tener tejido por análisis. De la manera por la que se obtiene ese tejido puede ser por tomografía computada, biopsia percutánea con aguja fina o más grande (para tener mejor tejido) o biopsia quirúrgica en donde se usa si la sospecha es grande y los pacientes van directamente a cirugía.

 La otra opción es por broncoscopía, que ahora se está usando menos de lo que se usaba anteriormente, este procedimiento es por medio de un tubo que va por la garganta hasta los bronquios y el árbol bronquial para tomar tejido. La broncoscopía es beneficioso para tumores centralizados en el mediastino (parte entremedia de los pulmones), pero no están beneficioso en la periferia que está en los costados de los pulmones.

Otra opción que está usando cada vez más en el mundo, es una biopsia con broncoscopía con ultrasonido endobronquial. Es similar a un broncoscopio, pero tiene una cámara de ultrasonido que nos permite localizar ganglios linfáticos, con lo cual podemos tener biopsia y confirmación de enfermedad en ganglios linfáticos en el mediastino.


 

How is lung cancer diagnosed?

Lung cancer diagnosis, in general, starts with a patient presenting some kind of abnormality in a medical imaging like a chest x-ray or a chest computed tomography. Patients could be or could be not presenting the following symptoms: cough, fatigue, weight loss and others, but they are nonspecific. 

When a patient has a suspicious injury or sign of lung cancer, a tissue biopsy should be analyzed. There are many ways to obtain this tissue like computed tomography, percutaneous biopsy with thin or larger needle (for better-quality tissue), or surgical biopsy that is done when the doctor thinks the injury has a higher risk for lung cancer.    

The other option is bronchoscopy, which is less used than it was before. Here you use a tube in the throat to get to the bronchioles and then to the bronchial tree and take the sample. Bronchoscopy is great for centralized tumors in the mediastinum (middle part of the lungs), but is not good for the periphery area in the side of the lungs.

Another option that it’s been used more, is a bronchoscopy biopsy with endobronchial ultrasound. It is similar to a bronchoscopy, but it has an ultrasound camera that helps us find lymph nodes, where we can make a biopsy and confirm lymph nodes disease in the mediastinum.

Video Language

Next Previous link

Previous PostNext Post

Related Content

Image
Clinical Trials Storytelling 2025
Article
GRACE is pleased to introduce three amazing individuals participating in the 2024-25 GRACE Clinical Trials Experiences Storytelling Program
Article
Advance directives are a powerful way to take control of healthcare choices. These documents allow you to outline preferences for medical care and specify end-of-life wishes. These documents can also be a way to appoint loved ones who you would like to help with these decisions, such as a healthcare proxy (someone to make decisions on your behalf, if you cannot). As cancer treatments can involve aggressive treatments and/or complex medical management, having advance directives ensures that your desires regarding treatment options and end-of-life care are clearly communicated. 
Image
2024-25 patient perspectives header
Article
Tell your story and help us help others! Apply online now for this paid opportunity. This program gives a voice to those who have experience in participating in a clinical trial for a cancer diagnosis. Your voice helps to educate and advocate for others who are in or who may be considering a clinical trial.  We want to hear from you!

Forum Discussions

Can SCLC also be treated with targeted therapy?

Hi amitchouhan,

Welcome to Grace. At this time, there aren't any targeted therapies to treat SCLC, but there are new treatments. Check out our latest OncTalk webinar from December. The last...

Recent Comments

JOIN THE CONVERSATION
Thank you for sharing
By LeviDrake on
Hi bluesun,I don't know of…
By JanineT GRACE … on
Amivantamab and Lazertinib
By happybluesun on
Glad to help.  FYI, I just…
By JanineT GRACE … on