About the Lung Cancer Early Detection & Prevention Clinic

The Lung Cancer Early Detection & Prevention Clinic (LCED&PC) is dedicated to diagnosing lung cancer early and reducing your risk for lung cancer. If you have been diagnosed with abnormalities suspicious for lung cancer (such as lung nodules, mass, adenopathy, etc.), your physician can refer you to our clinic. If you want a second opinion regarding a recent diagnosis, you can also refer yourself for an appointment.

Detecting lung cancer at its earliest stage and having it surgically removed has been shown to increase five-year survival rates from five percent to 70 percent!

Before your arrival, we will accumulate your health records, including your radiographic images. Every patient is evaluated by a team that includes pulmonologists and chest radiologists who are dedicated to detecting lung cancer at its earliest stages. As a patient at SCCA, you will have immediate access to other specialists, such as interventional radiologists, nuclear radiologists, thoracic surgeons, radiation oncologists, and medical oncologists, all of whom will be able to share their expertise to help develop an effective plan for the diagnosis and treatment of your disease. You will also have access to the latest lung cancer treatments in clinical studies.

We use the latest outpatient-based, minimally invasive technology, such as bronchoscopy, endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS), guided transbronchial needle biopsies (TBNA), and fluoroscopy or CT-guided needle biopsies to make rapid, safe diagnoses. 

If you are a current or former smoker, you may be at high risk for lung cancer. Learn more about the risk factors for lung cancer. If necessary, your doctor may recommend screening with low-dose spiral CT (computed tomography). These scans have been shown to decrease the risk of dying from lung cancer in current and former heavy smokers. Find out if you qualify for low-dose CT screening.

What happens if you have lung cancer?

If you are found to have lung cancer, we will use the minimally invasive EBUS procedure to stage your disease rapidly so that you can move on to receive the treatment that you will need from world-class thoracic surgeons from UW Medical Center and oncologists from SCCA. As a patient here, you will have access to the latest clinical studies in lung cancer therapy.

What happens if you have a different lung problem?

If another diagnosis is made, we will make sure that you receive the best possible care regardless of your diagnosis. You will have the opportunity to participate in lung cancer early detection studies and help us discover better ways to find lung cancer early.

Make an Appointment

To schedule an appointment with the Lung Cancer Early Detection and Prevention Clinic, call (206) 288-7222.