LUNG CANCER AWARENESS

Value Every Breath.

85%

of lung cancers are diagnosed
in the later stages

#1

deadliest cancer in
Aotearoa (New Zealand)

Do you have enough air to last a lifetime?

Every breath matters. Yet for many New Zealanders, lung cancer remains one of the most silent and serious health threats. At Astra Radiology, we’re committed to helping you value every breath through early detection and advanced imaging technology, because having enough air to last a lifetime begins with knowing what’s happening inside your lungs.

Know the signs

Lung cancer can present differently for each person, but common symptoms include:

• Shortness of breath
• Changes to the voice i.e. hoarseness
• Chest pain
• Coughing or spitting up blood
• A new cough that doesn’t subside
• Chest infections that last more than three weeks or are recurring
• Enlarged fingertips
• Loss of appetite
• Unexplained weight loss
• Unexplained tiredness

Understanding Lung Cancer Risk

Lung cancer can develop quietly, often showing no symptoms until the disease is advanced. Risk increases with age, smoking history, or long-term exposure to environmental factors. The good news is that when lung cancer is found early, treatment outcomes and survival rates improve dramatically.

That’s why Astra Radiology encourages eligible patients to take advantage of low-dose CT scans, a fast, painless and highly effective way to detect even the smallest changes in the lungs.

Get Well

Your doctor will tailor your treatment based on the type of cancer, the stage, and prognosis of the lung cancer, etc.

Common treatments include:
• Surgery
• Radiation
• Chemotherapy
• Targeted therapies
• Immunotherapy

OUR SERVICES

Chest X-Ray

Chest CT

MRI

PET

FACT OR FICTION

There’s more than one type of lung cancer.

Fact! Lung cancer is the uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells within the lungs. When these abnormal cells grow and spread they can form tumors and majorly disrupt the normal functioning of the lungs.

With both types of lung cancer (non-small cell lung cancer and small cell lung cancer), early and accurate diagnosis is crucial for determining the correct staging and informing the best treatment plan.

Only smokers can get lung cancer.

False! Lung cancer is caused by the growth and spread of abnormal cells. Cells become abnormal for a range of reasons including smoking, genetics, and exposure to pollution, smoking, dust, asbestos, silica, fumes, etc.

Lung cancer can be hereditary.

Fact! Lung cancer can be hereditary in some cases. If you have a family history of lung cancer, it is worth limiting your exposure to other lung cancer risk factors, paying attention to your lung health, and getting checked if you grow concerned.

Lung cancer can be cured.

Fact! Absolutely! Lung cancer is curable, however, of all the cancers, it does cause the most deaths in Australia. The key, as with any cancer, is to know your risk, know the symptoms, and get checked as soon as possible.

You don’t live long after being diagnosed with lung cancer.

False! Prognosis is unique to the person. The stage of the cancer, available treatment options, and general health and age of the person all contribute to how long a person will live with treatment. Some will make a full recovery and be able to return to their pre-cancer lives. The most crucial factor in determining the outcome of a person’s lung cancer treatment is the age of the cancer – young cancers caught early are much more treatable.