About Lung Cancer

First steps – diagnosis to treatment
Recognising lung cancer

Canopy Cancer Care is a leading private clinic for adult cancer patients. Our team specialises in the care of patients requiring cancer treatment. The Canopy vision is to offer New Zealanders the option of world class cancer care, delivered locally. Every day and with every patient we work towards this goal. The Canopy team has been providing an international standard of care for over eight years. During this time we have built a strong team who are all passionate about our patients and the outcomes that matter to them most.

Epsom, Auckland

Epsom

Takapuna, Auckland

North Shore

Tauranga, Bay of Plenty

Tauranga

Whangarei, Northland

Whangarei

Hastings, Hawke's Bay

Hawke's Bay

Rotorua, Bay of Plenty

Rotorua & Taupo

What is lung cancer?

Lung cancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in one or both lungs.

Types of lung cancer

Non-small cell lung cancer
Most common histological sub types adenocarcinoma, squamous cell, large cell.

Small-cell lung cancer
Make up to about 20% of lung cancers. Grows and spreads quickly.

Incidence & Survival rates

Lung cancer is the leading cause of Cancer death in NZ. Every day 6 New Zealanders will be diagnosed with lung cancer and approximately 1,500 die from lung cancer per year. Lung cancer occurs most often in adults between the ages of 40 and 70 who have smoked cigarettes for at least 20 years.

Survival rates
Survival from lung cancer in New Zealand is poor with a five year survival rate of:

9.5% for men
11% for women

MoH 2016

Risk Factors

Smoking
Smoking is the single greatest risk factor of lung cancer.

Previous lung disease
COPD/TB
Chronic obstruction pulmonary disease and tuberculosis.

Passive smoking
Second hand smoke (SHS) contains carcinogens and chemicals such as cyanide, DDT, ammonia and carbon monoxide.(Smoke free NZ)

Family history of lung cancer
1 in 5 people that develop lung cancer have never smoked. Increased prevalence of mutations (EGFR, ALK) in patients with lung cancer that have never smoked.

Occupational exposure
Occupational exposure to asbestos is associated with an increased risk of asbestosis, mesothelioma (a rare cancer of the pleural membranes on the surface of the lungs and lung cancer.

For people with asbestosis, their risk of developing lung cancer is doubled. If the person also smokes, then the risk is increased.

Signs or symptoms

Persistent or recurrent chest infections
Cough / hoarseness
Unexplained chest / pleuritic pain
Feeling breathless and wheezy for no reason
Haemoptysis
Unexplained lymphadenopathy
Finger clubbing
Weight loss
Fatigue

More information

Find more information on lung cancer

Canopy Cancer Care lung tumour team

Internationally renowned lung oncologist’s Dr Laird Cameron, Abbey Wrigley and Richard Sullivan together make up the lung tumour team at Canopy Cancer Care in Auckland.

They are supported by Drs Michelle Head, Elliott Brenman and Richard North in Tauranga and by Drs Abbey Wrigley and Vince Newton in Whangarei. Specialist lung nurse Karen Rowland provides expert nursing care in this tumour stream.

Their combined knowledge, experience and skills make them the most experienced team available to treat adult and young adult patients in New Zealand.

If you have an adult or young adult patient with lung cancer, please contact Canopy Cancer Care with a referral to the Lung Team.

Canopy specialises in the care of patients requiring cancer treatment with chemotherapy, immunotherapy, antibody therapy, hormone therapy and more targeted therapies.