Lung Cancer Treatment Research

According to the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, lung cancer is one of the most deadly cancers in the United States. However, research is under way to help fight lung cancer.

Early Detection

• A research team led by Dr. Samir Hanash of the Hutchinson Center is working to develop a blood test that can detect lung cancer at its earliest stages. Early detection can help raise survival percentages.

Smoking Prevention

• Educating people to quit smoking is the best way to cut down on lung cancer since 90 percent of the disease's deaths occur in smokers.

Exercise

• Experts are studying the effects of exercise on cutting down the risk of lung cancer. Studies conducted by the Hutchinson Center have found that people who exercise more are at less risk for developing cancer.

Surgery

• Researchers at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance are looking for non-invasive ways to treat lung cancer. In what is known as video-assisted thoracic surgery, doctors may be able to treat early stages of lung cancer with minimal cutting.

Causes

• Researchers in Dr. Dusty Miller of the Hutchinson Center's lab have found a link between the jaagsiekte sheep retrovirus in lung cancers in sheep. Research on virus that act the same way in humans is under way.