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Whether you're worried about smoking and your risk for lung cancer....if you or a loved one has been diagnosed with lung cancer and needs a place for exceptional treatment....or you just want just a second opinion, Community MD Anderson has the answers when it comes to lung cancer. Our specialists provide the surgical options, radiation therapy, medical oncology and survivor support you need.
To request an appointment with lung cancer specialist, please call 317-621-2627 or 833-473-1483 (toll-free) or request an appointment online.
The thoracic surgery team at Community Heart and Vascular Hospital is the first in Indianapolis to perform an innovative procedure for lung cancer. The Combined Robotic Assisted Thoracic Surgery (CRATS) procedure uses an ION robot bronchoscope to biopsy a tumor. If found to be cancerous, the team can remove the tumor in the same procedure, under one dose of anesthesia.
Smoking - even exposure to second-hand smoke - is the number one risk factor associated with lung cancer. The good news is that smoking is a factor you can control, and that quitting smoking even after years of smoking can significantly reduce your risk of developing lung cancer.
Other risk factors for lung cancer include exposure to radon gas (often found in homes), asbestos and other chemicals, and air pollution. Previous occurrence of lung cancer or lung disease, chest/breast radiation therapy, and a family history of lung cancer also increase risk.
Lung cancer is mostly a disease of older adults (>80% of those living with lung cancer are age 60 or older). More men are diagnosed with lung cancer, but more women live with lung cancer. African-American men are more likely to develop and die from lung cancer than persons of any other racial or ethnic group.
The symptoms of lung cancer are often different from person to person; some people may never experience symptoms. Symptoms of lung cancer often do not appear until the advanced stages of lung cancer. Some common signs of lung cancer include chronic cough, coughing up blood, hoarseness, wheezing or unexplained weight loss. These symptoms can be indicators of other medical conditions, so it's important to be evaluated by your healthcare provider to determine the cause.
Lung cancer at later stages may have spread to other parts of the body or organs. Signs of lung cancer that has spread may include:
Lung cancer is a cancer that starts in the lungs, the two spongy organs in your chest that help you breathe. Two types of lung cancers account for about 95% of all lung cancer diagnoses: non-small cell lung cancer and small cell lung cancer.
Dr. Rachit Gupta specializes in minimally invasive thoracic oncology and is an expert in lung cancer, esophageal cancer, mediastinal malignancies and benign thoracic diseases. He can perform robotic resections of thoracic malignancies in all of these areas.
Dr. Gupta is a member of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) and the American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS).
Dr. Kenneth Kesler specializes in thoracic surgical oncology and is an expert in lung cancer, esophageal cancer, mediastinal malignancies, and benign thoracic diseases. Prior to joining Community Health Network, Dr. Kesler was the surgical director of the Indiana University Thoracic Oncology Program, professor of surgery, and a faculty mentor to general and thoracic surgery residents.
Dr. Kesler is a fellow of American College of Surgeons and a member of various societies, including American College of Chest Physicians, American Association for Thoracic Surgeons, American Society of Clinical Oncology, International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer, and International Society for Diseases of the Esophagus.
Dr. Joshua Preiss specializes in thoracic oncology with a focus on minimally invasive (VATS) and robotic thoracic surgery. He is an expert in the diagnosis and treatment of benign and malignant conditions of the chest, lung, esophagus and mediastinum. His passions include working with cancer patients to develop and execute a successful care plan. Dr. Preiss is a Community Health Network MD Anderson Cancer Center provider.
Dr. Preiss has trained under world experts in thoracic oncology which has translated into many years of independent experience in providing safe and effective surgical care for complex thoracic pathology. Dr. Preiss is a member of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons.
Dr. Pulikal’s primary clinical interests are in minimally invasive general thoracic surgery via VATS and robotics. This includes anatomic lung resection and esophagectomy for benign and malignant disease. Dr. Pulikal is proficient in surgical management of complex primary mediastinal tumors, chest wall resection and reconstruction, and thoracic trauma.
Dr. Ashish Pulikal completed an integrated residency in cardiothoracic surgery and was administrative chief resident at UNC. He has been a member of the surgical simulation center at UNC teaching multiple courses for medical students, nurses and APPs in bedside and operating room surgical thoracic care.
