Lung Cancer: Modern, Compassionate Care in Hyderabad

No. Smoking is the biggest cause, but in India about a quarter of lung cancers occur in people who never smoked — more often women — linked to air pollution, indoor cooking-smoke and inherited factors. Anyone with persistent symptoms should be checked, whether or not they have smoked.

No — most persistent coughs are not cancer. Infections, asthma, acid reflux and, in India, TB are far more common. But a cough lasting more than about three weeks, coughing up blood, or new breathlessness should always be checked — most causes are treatable, and if it is cancer, finding it earlier helps.

The commonest signs are a persistent or worsening cough, coughing up blood, breathlessness, chest pain and repeated chest infections. Later there may be unexplained weight loss, tiredness or a hoarse voice. Symptoms often appear late and are easily mistaken for other conditions, so anything that persists for more than about three weeks deserves a check.

Not the way it once was. Lung cancer is still serious and often found late, but molecular testing, targeted therapy and immunotherapy have transformed treatment — even advanced lung cancer can often be controlled for a long time, and early-stage disease is potentially curable. Your outlook depends on the type, stage and molecular profile.

Possibly — TB is common in India and can look very similar to lung cancer on a scan or with a cough. That is exactly why a persistent cough, or one that does not improve with TB treatment, should be properly investigated — including a biopsy if needed — to be sure of the diagnosis.

It is testing of the tumour for specific changes — such as EGFR, ALK, ROS1 or PD-L1 — that guide treatment. If your cancer has one of these, targeted therapy or immunotherapy tailored to it may work especially well. It is now a routine, important part of diagnosing non-small cell lung cancer.

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for about 85% of cases and includes adenocarcinoma, squamous cell and large cell carcinoma; it tends to grow more slowly, and early-stage disease is often treated with surgery, sometimes followed by chemotherapy, targeted therapy or immunotherapy. Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is about 15%, is strongly linked to smoking and grows fast — but responds well to chemotherapy combined with immunotherapy and radiation, and is usually treated with systemic therapy rather than surgery.

The biggest risk is smoking, including bidis and hookah, and secondhand smoke. But air pollution and fine particulate matter, indoor cooking-fire or biomass smoke, radon, occupational exposures such as asbestos, and a family history all raise risk too — which is why lung cancer is not only a smoker’s disease. Having a risk factor does not mean you will get lung cancer, and some risks can be reduced.

Diagnosis usually starts with a chest X-ray and CT scan, then a biopsy — often by bronchoscopy or a needle — to confirm the type, a PET-CT to check how far it has spread, and molecular/biomarker testing to guide treatment. In India it is also important to tell lung cancer apart from TB, which can look similar. For high-risk heavy smokers, low-dose CT screening can find it early.

Non-small cell lung cancer is staged I to IV. Stage I is small and confined to the lung; stage II is larger or involves nearby lymph nodes; stage III is locally advanced, involving central (mediastinal) lymph nodes; and stage IV has spread beyond the chest. Small cell lung cancer is usually described as limited (confined to one side of the chest) or extensive. Even advanced disease is often very treatable with modern therapy.

Stage 4 (metastatic) lung cancer usually cannot be cured, but “terminal” is misleading — for many people it can now be controlled for a long time. Targeted therapy (for cancers with a marker like EGFR or ALK) and immunotherapy can keep advanced lung cancer in check and preserve quality of life, sometimes for years. Your outlook depends on the type, molecular profile and how the cancer responds.

When found early, lung cancer is highly treatable and often curable — early-stage disease can be removed by surgery or treated with SBRT with the aim of cure. Advanced lung cancer is usually not curable, but modern targeted therapy and immunotherapy can control it for a long time. This is why acting on persistent symptoms early makes such a difference.

Treatment is guided by the type, stage and molecular profile, and usually combines approaches. Surgery removes the tumour in early non-small cell disease; radiation, including stereotactic radiosurgery (SBRT), treats early inoperable or locally advanced disease; and chemotherapy, targeted therapy and immunotherapy treat the whole body. At CION, medical and radiation oncology deliver the systemic therapy and radiation in-house, while surgery is coordinated with specialist thoracic surgical colleagues.

Targeted therapy is medicine — often a daily tablet — that works against a specific change in the cancer, such as EGFR, ALK or ROS1, found by molecular testing. Immunotherapy helps your own immune system recognise and attack the cancer, and is guided partly by a marker called PD-L1. Both have transformed lung-cancer outcomes, especially in advanced disease, and are a core part of modern care.

SBRT (stereotactic body radiotherapy, or stereotactic radiosurgery) delivers very precise, high-dose radiation in just a few sessions. In lung cancer it is especially useful for small, early tumours in people who cannot have surgery, and for treating limited areas of spread. It is a genuine CION strength and is delivered in-house by our radiation oncology team.

Yes. Stopping smoking at any age, and even after a lung cancer diagnosis, improves how well treatment works, reduces complications and helps your lungs and overall health. It is never too late to benefit, and our team offers practical, non-judgemental smoking-cessation support alongside treatment.

A lung nodule is a small spot on the lung often found by chance on a scan. Most nodules are not cancer — many are old infections or scar tissue. Depending on its size and appearance, your doctor may simply repeat a scan after a few months to check for change, or recommend further tests. A nodule is not the same as a diagnosis of cancer.

Cost depends on the type, stage and treatment — surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, targeted therapy or immunotherapy — so it is best given as an indicative range after assessment. Targeted therapy and immunotherapy in particular vary widely and run over many months. Eligible treatment, including radiation, may be covered under Aarogyasri or PMJAY at empanelled centres. Use the estimator on this page and request a callback for an exact figure.

Lung cancer is not contagious — you cannot catch it from someone who has it. It is not usually inherited in a simple way either, but a family history of lung cancer can modestly raise your risk, alongside smoking, air pollution and other factors. If lung cancer runs in your family and you have symptoms or risk factors, it is worth discussing screening or assessment with a doctor.

Yes, and it is welcomed. A second opinion is a normal, valuable part of cancer care — it can confirm the diagnosis and stage, review the molecular testing, and make sure the treatment plan is right for you. At CION a second opinion is free with a report, and can often be arranged quickly so treatment is not delayed.