Lung cancer is one of the most common cancers in the United States, occurring rather frequently in Louisiana and other Southern states. At Ochsner, the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of lung cancer is a major area of focus. The late Alton Ochsner, M.D., one of Ochsner’s founders, was co-author of the initial report in the late 1930s that linked smoking with lung cancer. Dr. Ochsner was also a pioneer in lung cancer treatment. Today, proper diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer is best accomplished by a team of physicians dedicated to the care of patients with this illness. Specialists in pulmonary (chest) medicine, radiology and pathology are all important in the early diagnosis of lung cancer, while physicians in medical, radiation and surgical oncology are needed for treatment. At Ochsner, these physicians work as a team. This teamwork includes frequent patient-related conferences as well as the use of the latest techniques in combined modality therapy. This approach can permit surgery for complete removal of a lung cancer that otherwise could not have been accomplished. It can also allow for other treatments to be more effective. Ochsner physicians are world leaders in the treatment of lung cancer and are able to provide the most innovative methods of treatment. This expertise has brought new treatment methods and agents to the Ochsner community before they were even available at other hospitals around the nation.
Esophageal cancer is cancer that develops in the esophagus, the muscular tube that connects the throat to the stomach. The esophagus, located just behind the trachea, is about 10-to-13 inches in length and allows food to enter the stomach for digestion. The wall of the esophagus is made up of several layers and cancers generally start from the inner layer and grow out. No one knows exactly what causes esophageal cancer. At the top of the esophagus is a muscle, called the sphincter, which releases to let food or liquid go through. The lower part of the esophagus is connected to the stomach. Another muscle is located at this connection that opens to allow the food to enter the stomach. This muscle also works to keep food and juices from the stomach from backing into the esophagus. When these juices do back up, reflux, commonly known as heartburn, occurs. Long-term reflux can change the cells in the lower end of the esophagus. This condition is known as Barrett's esophagus. If these cells are not treated, they are at much higher risk of developing into cancer cells. Specific treatment for esophageal cancer will be determined by your physician based on:
- Your age, overall health and medical history.
- Extent of the disease.
- Your tolerance for specific medications, procedures or therapies.
- Expectations for the course of this disease.
- Your opinion or preference.
The liver is one of the largest organs in the body, filling the upper right side of the abdomen inside the rib cage. It has two parts: a right lobe and a smaller left lobe. The liver's role is to filter harmful substances from the blood so they can be passed from the body in stool and urine and convert nutrients into ready-to-use chemicals. It produces key proteins that control blood clotting, makes bile to help digest fats from food and stores glycogen (sugar), which the body uses for energy. Conditions such as cirrhosis, Hepatitis B or C, and hemochromatosis can increase the risk of developing liver cancer.