Second Leading Cause of Lung Cancer May Be in Your Basement

November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month (#LCAwareness). In this blog, guest writer Erica Voll discusses the lesser known, but all too common lung cancer risk of radon. Learn what steps you can take at home to help protect your family in this Focus on Cancer blog post. Learn more about radon from Oncolink here. 

Knowing the Facts

When we think of lung cancer, and lung cancer-related deaths, we immediately think of smoking and tobacco use. And, it’s with good reason. According the Centers for Disease Control, cigarette smoking is the number one risk factor for lung cancer. In the United States, cigarette smoking causes about 90 percent of lung cancers.

But the second leading cause of lung cancer could be in your home and you may not even know it.

Last year, we moved into a new home. We worried about everything from the house build to the move to how we would manage to unpack everything with two toddlers to wrangle. However, one thing we didn’t need to worry about was radon.

Or so we thought.

What is radon? Should I be concerned?

Radon is a naturally occurring gas that comes from the ground. It can enter your home through the foundation, cracks in the walls and floors, bad piping and so on - and then get trapped inside. Radon can’t be seen, smelled or tasted yet it is very dangerous - causing about 20,000 new cases of lung cancer each year.

Because radon is naturally occurring in the ground, not every home is at risk for high radon levels. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provides a radon map and detailed information so you can determine the risk level for the zone you live in...

...in theory.

The reality is that every home should be checked with a radon testing kit. We tested our home, in a few days we learned that our passive radon mitigation system was not enough – our levels were greater than 4 pCi/L (picocuries per liter) and we would need to install a fan in our attic to draw more radon out from our basement into the air.

It was relatively inexpensive to have a fan installed (it may be more expensive without an existing passive system in place), and it worked. Our radon levels are now virtually undetectable.

Radon Testing for Lung Cancer Awareness Month

November is lung cancer awareness month. So while it is certainly important to educate friends and loved ones about the dangers of smoking tobacco, do yourself a favor and test your home for radon as well. It could, literally, save your life and the lives of those you love.

If you or a loved one are interested in learning more about lung cancer treatment options at the Abramson Cancer Center, visit us online. The Cure is Within.

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Proton Therapy for Lung Cancer at Penn

November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month (#LCAwareness). To recognize this, Focus on Cancer highlights Kathy, grandmother of 8, who learned about treatment options for lung cancer when she was diagnosed with adenocarcinoma. Learn about surgery, chemotherapy, and proton treatment from her experience with Penn Medicine's Abramson Cancer Center.

Lung cancer is the most common form of the disease in the world, claiming more than 1.3 million lives each year. 80 to 90 percent of all lung cancer cases are attributed to smoking tobacco. Most lung cancers are of the non-small cell variety, with adenocarcinoma being the most common type in women.

Kathy Brandt learned all of this and more when she was diagnosed with adenocarcinoma. Her pulmonologist discovered the cancer in her left lung while Kathy was in for a checkup for her emphysema.

“You feel like you have been hit by a ton of bricks,” Kathy remembers about her reaction upon hearing the diagnosis. “It was truly terrifying, but then the decision needs to be made where you are going to seek treatment.” - Learn more about Kathy’s story about proton therapy for lung cancer in her own words here.

Treatment Options at Penn Medicine

The type of treatment needed can often drive that decision. There are three main treatment types for lung cancer: Surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation.

Surgery has been the “gold standard” for lung cancer. It is possible to completely remove cancers surgically that have not metastasized and spread either to or from the lungs. If the cancer has spread, however, then surgery is combined with other treatment. Possible side effects include local pain, damage to surrounding tissue and the threat of infection.

Chemotherapy uses strong chemicals to target rapidly dividing cells throughout the body. These chemicals kill both the original tumor cells as well as any cells that have spread. That means healthy cells are targeted as well, but these cells recover while cancer cells do not. Chemotherapy is often given as an adjuvant therapy designed to reduce the risk of cancer recurrence after surgery. Side effects may include nausea and vomiting, loss of hair and appetite, diarrhea and anemia.

Radiation treatment before or after surgery or in conjunction with other therapy is used to destroy or shrink tumors. This can be done to try and kill tumors entirely, to kill remaining cancer cells after surgery, or to kill cancer cells that have spread. However, it damages other cells as well, those healthy normal cells surrounding the cancer. Possible side effects include fatigue, nausea, hair loss and loss of appetite.

“First I had surgery. I had a left upper lobectomy, where half of my left lung was removed,” Kathy explained. “That was followed by chemotherapy and then radiation.”

Kathy then had her proton therapy for lung cancer at Penn Medicine.

“Penn Medicine was a wonderful choice for us. They used a team approach. I saw an oncologist, a radiologist and a surgeon,” she said, “all located at Penn Medicine.”

“They were all genuinely concerned and genuinely caring and wanted to make me healthy again, and that was evident from the first day I went there”.

The main reason she came to Penn for lung cancer treatment, however, was for the option Penn Medicine offered Kathy that no one else in the region could – proton therapy for lung cancer as her radiation treatment, under the same roof as all of her other treatments.

“They offer proton therapy for lung cancer, which was especially important to me. I was concerned about the scatter from radiation, and proton therapy has less scatter, and therefore the chances would be less that I would have damage to any other internal organ,” Kathy explained.

Treatment at the Roberts Proton Therapy Center uses genetically targeted proton beams to destroy cancer cells. This is a particularly important factor in lung cancer treatment due to the proximity of the heart to the lungs. And it also means fewer side effects for patients.

“It was wonderful. I continued to work the whole time”, Kathy said. “I went to work, came home, and enjoyed my grandchildren,” Kathy said of the days she was receiving treatment. After five weeks, Kathy was cancer free.

“What survivorship means to me, first of all, is not to sweat the small stuff,” she said. “I definitely embrace every day.”

If you or a loved one are interested in learning more about lung cancer treatment options at the Abramson Cancer Center, visit us online.
The Cure is Within.

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New Research in Nicotine Addiction

Nicotine addiction is like any addiction - difficult to treat without the right tools or resources. Often times, people who use nicotine have tried to quit numerous times. For some, it is easy. But for others, overcoming their nicotine is difficult.

At the Center for Interdisciplinary Research on Nicotine Addiction (CIRNA), faculty conducts numerous studies to understand the nature of nicotine addiction and identify effective methods to treat nicotine dependence.

Robert Schnoll, PhD, is an associate professor in the department of psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania who is working to understand nicotine addiction, and new ways to treat it.

"We have completed many studies of different treatments for smoking and continue to conduct studies in this area," says Dr. Schnoll. "Some of our work focuses on identifying methods for improving how smokers respond to existing FDA-approved medications, such as potentially tailoring the selection of treatments to individual smokers based on genetic characteristics or evaluating how longer-term treatment improves outcomes."

Overall, smokers interested in quitting are more likely to be successful if they utilize FDA-approved medications and professional behavioral counseling.

Dr. Schnoll adds: "We encourage smokers interested in quitting to contact our program (1-877-513-QUIT) or contact the Philadelphia quit-line for more information (1-800-QUIT-NOW)."

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Immunotherapy for Lung Cancer

November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month (#LCAwareness). Dr. Gregory Beatty, MD, PhD, discusses immunotherapy and it's relationship with cancer from last year's Focus on Lung Cancer Conference. Learn about the ways lung cancer tumors are being studied to create new treatments - then join us 11/15 for the 6th Focus on Lung Cancer Conference.

Demystifying the Immune System

"Lung cancer is a formidable foe with many ways of eluding the immune system--but we are developing multiple approaches to using immunotherapy as a treatment option." Gregory Beatty, MD, PhD

Our immune systems are sophisticated, highly evolved and multi-dimensional. They look for and attack invaders. They fight infections, heal wounds and maintain our body health. But do they recognize and fight cancer? And if not, why not?

The answer is complicated. The immune system does, at least in some instances, recognize and attack cancer cells, including lung cancer cells--but in many cases, it fails to eradicate these cells. New research indicates that cancer cells actually develop ways of co-opting the immune system, teaching it to help the cancer grow and spread. This says Dr. Beatty is "bad education," and the goal of immunotherapy research is to re-educate the immune system to attack cancer cells.

At Penn, researchers are using a number of approaches. These include:

• Cancer cells have the ability to produce STOP signals that prevent the immune system from recognizing them. One approach to immunotherapy is to develop specific antibodies that go after these STOP signals and block them. One example is the PD-1 blocking antibody.
• CAR-T or chimeric antigen receptors use specially engineered killer T-cells to attack cancer cells. These T-cells are harvested from the patients, go through an amazing process by which they are "re-programmed" to attack the patient's tumor, and then re-injected. The results for several cancers have been promising--with trials scheduled to begin for non small cell lung cancers.

Right now, there are no immunotherapy agents approved by the FDA to treat lung cancer, but clinical trials are underway in patients with advanced disease, and are planned as adjuvant therapy for patients who undergo potentially curative surgery as a means of reducing the risk if recurrence.

Learn from expert panels about lung cancer treatment options, clinical trials and more. RSVP for the
Focus on Lung Cancer free educational conference.

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Foods That Lower Lung Cancer Risk

November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month. To recognize this, Carly Roop RD, CSO, is a registered dietitian at the Abramson Cancer Center at Penn Medicine Pennsylvania Hospital. Here, she provides nutrition education and support to patients while addressing nutrition-related side effects from chemotherapy and radiation. Dietitians at ACC provide educational nutrition programs that are open to patients as well as the community.


The American Institute of Cancer Research found compelling evidence that a diet high in fruit can lower lung cancer risk as much as 36% of U.S. lung cancer cases not caused by tobacco. The AICR recommends eating at least 5 servings of a variety of fruits and vegetables every day!

This may seem hard to do, but the AICR makes it easy by suggesting you rethink your plate.

As a dietitian, my mantra is food first; there is convincing evidence that high-dose supplements of beta-carotene can actually increase lung cancer risk. Therefore, it is better to get your beta-carotene from vegetables such as carrots, pumpkins, and sweet potatoes.

In the food form, the phytochemical beta-carotene neutralizes free radicals, which may damage cells. The anti-cancer compounds found in cabbage and kale such as indole-3-carbinoles and isothiocyanates have also been linked to a lower incidence of lung cancer.

Sauerkraut anyone?

  Learn more lung cancer prevention tips at the Abramson Cancer Center 6th Focus on Lung Cancer Patient Education Conference 11/15

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Survivor Strong: My Rearview Mirror

Donna-Lee Lista

November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month (#LCAwareness). Donna-Lee, a lung cancer survivor and advocate for lung cancer research talks about lung cancer research, and her hope for lung cancer treatment in the future.

When I see all that has transpired in the last few years regarding lung cancer research, I can’t help but hope that maybe all the work the advocates are doing has something to do with it. I want to believe we are making a difference and want to hope if we keep it up, we can see it through. Maybe it is a dream that doctors will completely cure lung cancer, maybe it is more realistic to strive for treatments that make it a chronic disease, but why not reach for the sun and if we have to settle on the stars that will be ok for a short while too? Once we get there, we re-group and keep on going.

My wish is that people will start feeling hopeful when all the latest research and development in lung cancer becomes common knowledge. I know that any cancer diagnosis is awful and not a club anyone wants to willingly join, but let’s face it, there are some cancers that offer a lot more hope than lung. But now, it won’t be so hard to find survivors to hold your hand through the ordeal because more are living longer and more are being cured. I recognize we have a lot to still accomplish, but compared to where we were, the train has really started to leave the station.

I know we are only at the threshold of a new world order for lung cancer, a precipice of sorts, and I understand there is a lot more to do. But, there is finally something to see in the rearview mirror, because we are moving ahead and that my friend is exhilarating!

Learn More About Lung Cancer Treatment at Penn

Join Penn Medicine’s Abramson Cancer Center and the Pennsylvania Lung Cancer Partnership for a day of information about lung cancer treatment and research, as well as, a chance to network with others at the 6th Annual Focus On Lung Cancer Conference.

Get information about lung cancer and these topics:

• Ask the Experts
• Diagnosis
• Chemo and Personalized Therapies
• Coping
• Integrative Medicine and Wellness
• Nutrition
• Proton and Radiation Therapy
• Research and Clinical Trials
• Risk, Screening and Prevention
• Robotic Surgery
• Symptom Management

Register for the Focus On Lung Cancer Conference at Penn

Date: Friday, November 22
Time: 7:30 am to 2:30 pm
Location: Hilton Hotel, 4200 City Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19131
Register: Registration is free. Join us for the 5th Annual Focus On Lung Cancer Conference

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Great American Smokeout on November 21st

Penn Medicine is proud to join the American Cancer Society in promoting the Great American Smokeout on Thursday, November 21 as part of Lung Cancer Awareness Month (#LCAwareness).

Did you know that tobacco use is the single most preventable cause of disease and premature death in the United States? In fact, tobacco use is responsible for nearly one in five deaths in this country.

Why Quit?

Research shows that if you smoke and pick a quit date in the next 30 days and stick to it, you’ll be more likely to quit for good. So pick a quit date, and as you mark it on your calendar, consider these benefits of quitting: 

• 20 minutes after quitting: Your heart rate and blood pressure drop.
• 12 hours after quitting: The carbon monoxide level in your blood drops to normal.
• 2 weeks to 3 months after quitting: Your circulation improves, and your lung function increases.
• 1 to 9 months after quitting: Coughing and shortness of breath decrease; cilia (tiny hair-like structures in the lungs) regain normal function, increasing the ability to handle mucus, clean the lungs, and reduce the risk of infection.
• 1 year after quitting: The excess risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a smoker’s.
• 10 years after quitting: The lung cancer death rate is about half that of a smoker. The risks of cancer of the larynx and pancreas decrease.
• 15 years after quitting: The risk of coronary heart disease is that of a nonsmoker’s.
• 5 years after quitting: Risks of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, and bladder are cut in half. Cervical cancer risk falls to that of a nonsmoker. Stroke risk can fall to that of a nonsmoker after 2 to 5 years.

How to Quit

If you are looking for ways to quit smoking or tobacco use, the Comprehensive Smoking Cessation Treatment at Penn Medicine can help you quit for good.

• If you want to try to quit smoking on your own, here are some things you can do to take the first steps.*
• Set a Quit Date: Whether it is today, on National Smokeout Day, or another day, setting a quit date can help you focus your efforts and plan accordingly.
• Tell People: Tell your friends and family members you are quitting smoking on that date. Let them help you and support you along the way and on that day.
• Anticipate the challenges. Identify what they are and plan on how you will cope with them.
• Remove cigarettes and all tobacco products from your home, work and car.
• Talk to your doctor about getting help to quit smoking.

Penn's Comprehensive Smoking Treatment Program provides state-of-the-art and individualized treatment to help smokers quit safely and comfortably. Specialists at the center offer treatment that is respectful and supportive, without guilt or pressure.

VIDEO: Watch Frank Leone, MD, MS, director of the Comprehensive Smoking Cessation Treatment Program at Penn talk about how Penn can help you quit smoking. 

The Cure is Within the Abramson Cancer Center.
Request a lung cancer consultation for screening and treatment options today.

*These steps were taken from the website, Smokefree.gov.

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Targeted Molecular Therapy for Lung Cancer

November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month (#LCAwareness). In this Focus on Cancer blogpost, learn about the benefits of targeted molecular therapy at Penn Medicine's Abramson Cancer Center.

Targeted molecular cancer therapy is a type of personalized lung cancer treatment designed to interrupt the unique molecular abnormalities that make cancer grow.

Targeted molecular cancer therapy uses personalized drugs that are designed for each individual through the rigorous analysis of their tumor's unique molecular makeup, or “fingerprint.” These targeted therapies have the potential to cause less impact on normal cells and bring about fewer side effects, while still improving patients’ quality of life.

Every lung cancer is different. So treatment for lung cancer should be tailored to each individual patient.

At Penn's Abramson Cancer Center, patients with lung cancer have access to every treatment option available. Doctors and patients work together to choose the best option for each patient based on their particular situation. Penn's expert care and leading-edge treatments give patients with lung cancer the best chance of an excellent outcome.

Advanced Lung Cancer Therapies at Penn

Lung cancer specialists at Penn Medicine develop personalized treatment plans that often include a combination of therapies designed to meet the specific needs of each patient.

• Lung-sparing surgery and other advanced surgical options such as sleeve resection and laser surgery
• Proton therapy, CyberKnife® and other radiation therapies
• Chemotherapy and biological therapies, including immunotherapy, vaccine therapy and targeted molecular therapies
• Clinical trials of the very latest treatments for lung cancer

Learn about the lung cancer treatment options, survivorship and more at the
6th Annual Focus On Lung Cancer Conference and CANPrevent Lung Cancer Conference
both on Friday November 15th, 2013

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Save the Date: 6th Focus On Lung Cancer Conference

The Abramson Cancer Center, in collaboration with the Pennsylvania Lung Cancer Partnership is pleased to present the 6th Focus On Lung Cancer and CANPrevent Lung Cancer Conferences, a day-long conference dedicated to lung cancer topics including prevention, diagnosis, treatment, genetics and living well after lung cancer treatment.

This conference was one of the first in the country to address the issues and concerns of breast and gynecologic cancer survivors and their families.

Whether at risk for lung cancer, newly diagnosed or a long term survivor, attendees receive up-to-date information including: the latest laboratory research, treatment advances, clinical trials, and survivorship issues.

There are two different tracts for the day including Focus On Lung Cancer Conference and CANPrevent Lung Cancer Conference.

Join Us for the 6th Focus On Lung Cancer Conference

Date: Friday, November 22, 2013
Time: 7:30 am to 3:30 pm
Location: Hilton Hotel, 4200 City Avenue, Philadelphia PA
Looking for information from medical professionals? Learn from expert panels about lung cancer prevention, risk, and quitting smoking.

Register for Focus on Lung Cancer Conference here

Join us for the 3rd CANPrevent Lung Cancer Conference

Date: Friday, November 22, 2013
Time: 8:30 am to 11:30 pm
Location: Hilton Hotel, 4200 City Avenue, Philadelphia PA
Are you or a loved one newly touched by lung cancer? Join us for risk assessment, new diagnostics and procedures, surgical advances, information on proton therapy and more.

Register for CANPrevent Lung Cancer Conference here.

Can’t Make the Conference? Want to watch it live?

Can’t make this year’s conference? Be sure to follow @PennCancer on Twitter with the hashtag #LungCancerACC to follow the day’s topics and discussions.

The Cure is Within the Abramson Cancer Center
Learn about the Lung Cancer screening and treatment options available today.

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Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Study Information from ASCO 2013

Christine Wilson, cancer survivor, shares her experiences from the The American Society of Clinical Oncologists (ASCO) national conference in 2013. Every year, over 30,000 cancer specialists and researchers from around the world gather to present their latest findings on the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of science. At a recent continuing medical education meeting, experts from the Abramson Cancer Center summarized some of the most important research from ASCO 2013 for a packed room of over 300 local oncologists. 

In this article, Chris discusses a presentation about studies for non-small cell lung cancer from Penn Medicine's Director of Thoracic Oncology, Corey Langer, MD.

Locally Advanced Disease

• START Trial: MUC1 is often over expressed in lung cancer. In preclinical studies, a vaccine produced an increase in T-cells or an immunotherapy response. The START trial is a large phase III study for patients with stage III lung cancer with either stable disease or an objective response to chemo and radiation therapy. These patients received the MUC 1 vaccine for eight weeks. Although, overall, the trial did not extend overall survival, the group of patients who received their chemo and radiation at the same time did have a 10 month advantage in overall survival. The reasons for this are not entirely clear, but may result from a combination of factors.

Advanced Disease

• PROSE Trial: VeriStrat testing is a new way of profiling lung cancers based on a number of prognostic factors. The PROSE trial studied whether VeriStrat has any predictive value in determining the success of chemotherapy and targeted therapy. The results did not show any difference between the two arms for the VeriStrat Good patients, but the VeriStrat Poor patients receiving chemotherapy did better than those receiving the targeted therapy.
• Ganestespib is a novel agent that inhibits the Hsp-90 pathway which is over expressed in cancer cells. The GALAXY trial compared ganestespib alone with ganestespib and daclataxel. In patients with advanced lung cancer, earlier trials have shown that patients who did well on previous therapies are more likely to do better with this agent.
• Anti-PD-1. This trial uses nivolumab with advanced lung cancer patients who have been heavily pretreated. Response rates for both squamous and non-squamous cell patients have been in the 20 to 25% range. This is promising, and can be easily administered in an outpatient setting.

Penn Medicine's Abramson Cancer Center is leading the way in breakthrough cancer treatment. If you or someone you know has been touched by cancer, the power to find the Cure is Within.


Hear our stories and find out more today.

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What is Targeted Molecular Cancer Therapy for Lung Cancer?

Targeted molecular cancer therapy is a type of personalized lung cancer treatment designed to interrupt the unique molecular abnormalities that make cancer grow.

Targeted molecular cancer therapy uses personalized drugs that are designed for each individual through the rigorous analysis of their tumor's unique molecular makeup, or “fingerprint.” These targeted therapies have the potential to cause less impact on normal cells and bring about fewer side effects, while still improving patients’ quality of life.

Every lung cancer is different. So treatment for lung cancer should be tailored to each individual patient.

At Penn's Abramson Cancer Center, patients with lung cancer have access to every treatment option available. Doctors and patients work together to choose the best option for each patient based on their particular situation. Penn's expert care and leading-edge treatments give patients with lung cancer the best chance of an excellent outcome.

Advanced Lung Cancer Therapies at Penn

• Lung-sparing surgery and other advanced surgical options such as sleeve resection and laser surgery
• Proton therapy, CyberKnife® and other radiation therapies
• Chemotherapy and biological therapies, including immunotherapy, vaccine therapy and targeted molecular therapies
• Clinical trials of the very latest treatments for lung cancer

Lung cancer specialists at Penn Medicine develop personalized treatment plans that often include a combination of therapies designed to meet the specific needs of each patient.

Talk to a Penn Lung Cancer Nurse Navigator
or call 800-789-PENN(7366) today.

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What is Roberts Proton Therapy for Lung Cancer?

Proton therapy for lung cancer uses beams of protons that are precisely directed at a lung tumor.

The precision of proton therapy for lung cancer limits the radiation exposure of normal tissues while allowing a higher dose to be delivered to the tumor in the lung. The result is a better chance of curing lung cancer with fewer harmful side effects.

One of the most unique aspects of proton therapy is its ability to treat people with a history of lung cancer.

The Roberts Proton Therapy Center has recently developed re-treatment protocols aimed at treating recurrent lung cancer. Since this therapy is so targeted, it allows a potential lung cancer patient, and those patients with a history of lung cancer to receive multiple treatments and re-treatments – giving hope when other therapies have failed.

Watch Kathy discuss her proton therapy experience 
for non-small cell lung cancer at Penn here.

Learn more about proton therapy for lung cancer, and other personalized therapies for lung cancer at Penn.

Every lung cancer is different. So treatment for lung cancer should be tailored to each individual patient.

At Penn's Abramson Cancer Center, patients with lung cancer have access to every treatment option available, provided by nationally recognized cancer experts. Doctors and patients work together to choose the best option for each patient based on their particular situation. Penn's expert care and leading-edge treatments give patients with lung cancer the best chance of an excellent outcome.

Advanced Lung Cancer Therapies at Penn

Treatments for lung cancer at Penn's Abramson Cancer Center include:

• Lung-sparing surgery and other advanced surgical options such as sleeve resection and laser surgery
• Proton therapy, CyberKnife® and other radiation therapies
• Chemotherapy and biological therapies, including immunotherapy, vaccine therapy and targeted molecular therapies
• Clinical trials of the very latest treatments for lung cancer

Lung cancer specialists at Penn Medicine develop personalized treatment plans that often include a combination of therapies designed to meet the specific needs of each patient.

Request a consultation with a
Penn Lung Cancer Nurse Navigator here.

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Penn Medicine Helps Patients Battle Cancer with Proton Therapy

Kathy Brandt is a lung cancer survivor who thanks her doctors at Penn Medicine for saving her life.
Kathy had proton therapy for lung cancer at Penn.

The main reason Kathy went to Penn Medicine for lung cancer treatment was because Penn Medicine offered Kathy a radiation treatment that no one else in the region could – proton therapy for lung cancer, under the same roof as all of her other treatments.

“They offer proton therapy for lung cancer, which was especially important to me. I was concerned about the scatter from radiation, and proton therapy has less scatter, and therefore the chances would be less that I would have damage to any other internal organ,” Kathy explained.

Treatment at the Roberts Proton Therapy Center uses genetically targeted proton beams to destroy cancer cells. This is a particularly important factor in lung cancer treatment due to the proximity of the heart to the lungs. And it also means fewer side effects for patients.

Watch Kathy’s story on from 6 ABC News below.

Learn More About Proton Therapy for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer at Penn Medicine

Proton therapy is a non-invasive, incredibly precise cancer treatment that uses a beam of protons moving at very high speeds to destroy the DNA of cancer cells killing them and preventing them from multiplying.

Unlike conventional radiation that can affect surrounding healthy tissue as it enters the body and targets the tumor, proton therapy’s precise, high dose of radiation is extremely targeted. This targeted precision causes less damage to healthy, surrounding tissue.

Learn more about proton therapy, or schedule a consultation with a radiation oncologist at Penn Medicine.

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Dr. Simone Discusses Proton Therapy for Lung Cancer

Charles Simone, MD, chief of thoracic service in the department of radiation oncology at at Penn Medicine discussed proton therapy for lung cancer on CBS 3's Talk Philly this week.

Learn how proton therapy for lung cancer, and proton therapy is changing the way lung cancer is treated at Penn by watching this brief interview with Dr. Simone.

What is Proton Therapy?

Proton therapy is a non–invasive, incredibly precise cancer treatment that uses a beam of protons moving at very high speeds to destroy the DNA of cancer cells, killing them and preventing them from multiplying.

The Benefits of Proton Therapy at the Roberts Proton Therapy Center at Penn Medicine

Unlike conventional radiation that can affect surrounding healthy tissue as it enters the body and targets the tumor, proton therapy's precise, high dose of radiation is extremely targeted. This targeted precision causes less damage to healthy, surrounding tissue.

When aimed at cancer tumors, protons pack impressive power. Protons release their energy completely once they enter a tumor, limiting the radiation dose beyond the tumor, causing less damage to the healthy surrounding tissues and resulting in fewer side effects.

Learn more about proton therapy at Penn Medicine's Roberts Proton Therapy Center, and proton therapy for lung cancer.

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Proton Therapy for Lung Cancer at Penn

Learning about proton therapy for lung cancer treatment led grandmother of 8 to choose Penn Medicine.

Lung cancer is the most common form of the disease in the world, claiming more than 1.3 million lives each year. 80 to 90 percent of all lung cancer cases are attributed to smoking tobacco. Most lung cancers are of the non-small cell variety, with adenocarcinoma being the most common type in women.

Kathy Brandt learned all of this and more when she was diagnosed with adenocarcinoma. Her pulmonologist discovered the cancer in her left lung while Kathy was in for a checkup for her emphysema.

“You feel like you have been hit by a ton of bricks,” Kathy remembers about her reaction upon hearing the diagnosis. “It was truly terrifying, but then the decision needs to be made where you are going to seek treatment.”

Learn more about Kathy’s story about proton therapy for lung cancer in her own words here.

The type of treatment needed can often drive that decision. There are three main treatment types for lung cancer: Surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation.

Surgery has been the “gold standard” for lung cancer. It is possible to completely remove cancers surgically that have not metastasized and spread either to or from the lungs. If the cancer has spread, however, then surgery is combined with other treatment. Possible side effects include local pain, damage to surrounding tissue and the threat of infection.

Chemotherapy uses strong chemicals to target rapidly dividing cells throughout the body. These chemicals kill both the original tumor cells as well as any cells that have spread. That means healthy cells are targeted as well, but these cells recover while cancer cells do not. Chemotherapy is often given as an adjuvant therapy designed to reduce the risk of cancer recurrence after surgery. Side effects may include nausea and vomiting, loss of hair and appetite, diarrhea and anemia.

Radiation treatment before or after surgery or in conjunction with other therapy is used to destroy or shrink tumors. This can be done to try and kill tumors entirely, to kill remaining cancer cells after surgery, or to kill cancer cells that have spread. However, it damages other cells as well, those healthy normal cells surrounding the cancer. Possible side effects include fatigue, nausea, hair loss and loss of appetite.

“First I had surgery. I had a left upper lobectomy, where half of my left lung was removed,” Kathy explained. “That was followed by chemotherapy and then radiation.”

Kathy had her proton therapy for lung cancer at Penn Medicine.

“Penn Medicine was a wonderful choice for us. They used a team approach. I saw an oncologist, a radiologist and a surgeon,” she said, “all located at Penn Medicine.”

“They were all genuinely concerned and genuinely caring and wanted to make me healthy again, and that was evident from the first day I went there”.

The main reason she went to Penn Medicine for lung cancer treatment, however, was for the option Penn Medicine offered Kathy that no one else in the region could – proton therapy for lung cancer as her radiation treatment, under the same roof as all of her other treatments.

“They offer proton therapy for lung cancer, which was especially important to me. I was concerned about the scatter from radiation, and proton therapy has less scatter, and therefore the chances would be less that I would have damage to any other internal organ,” Kathy explained.

Treatment at the Roberts Proton Therapy Center uses genetically targeted proton beams to destroy cancer cells. This is a particularly important factor in lung cancer treatment due to the proximity of the heart to the lungs. And it also means fewer side effects for patients.

“It was wonderful. I continued to work the whole time”, Kathy said. “I went to work, came home, and enjoyed my grandchildren,” Kathy said of the days she was receiving treatment. After five weeks, Kathy was cancer free.

“What survivorship means to me, first of all, is not to sweat the small stuff,” she said. “I definitely embrace every day.”

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New Screening Recommendations for Lung Cancer

It is now recommended that physicians discuss lung cancer screening with people who meet certain criteria that put them at higher risk for developing lung cancer.

The recommendations are based on the National Lung Screening Trial study, of which Penn Medicine was a part.

About the National Lung Screening Trial

The National Lung Screening Trial (NLST) compared two ways of detecting lung cancer in high-risk smokers: low-dose helical computed tomography (CT) and standard chest X-ray.

The study aimed to find whether it is possible to detect lung cancers at an earlier more treatable stage such that there would be a decrease in cancer deaths.

Drew Torigian, MD, MA, associate professor of radiology at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, served as the site principal investigator at Penn for this national study, which involved more than 53,000 patients in 33 different sites.

The results were encouraging.

CT scanning detected significantly more cancerous and pre-cancerous lesions than chest X-rays. However, finding lesions isn't enough. The study had to demonstrate that early detection actually saved lives. Preliminary results of the study showed 87 more lives were spared by helical CT as compared to chest X-ray screening, which translates into a 20 percent reduction in the death rate.

New Guidelines for Lung Cancer Screening in Heavy Smokers 

The new guidelines recommend doctors discuss lung cancer screening with high risk patients between the ages of 55 to 74 years and who are in fairly good health.

Patients must have a smoking history equivalent to a pack a day for 30 years, and currently smoke or have quit within the past 15 years.

If people decide to be screened, the recommendation specifies that testing should be done with a low dose computed tomography (CT) scan and take place at a facility with experience in lung cancer screening. And it emphasizes that screening is not a substitute for quitting smoking. The most effective way to lower lung cancer risk is to stay away from tobacco.

Learn more about the National Lung Screening Trial, and treatment for lung cancer at Penn. 

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Focus On Cancer Year in Review: New Treatment for Lung Cancer

2012 was an exciting year for the Abramson Cancer Center. We are featuring blogs featured on the Focus On Cancer blog that highlight cancer treatment breakthroughs, coping tips and ideas, education and inspiration. Today, we are discussing new treatments for lung cancer including proton therapy for lung cancer.

"At Penn, we care about the total patient experience,” says John Kucharczuk, MD. “We know that for most people, the diagnosis of lung cancer is their first experience with this disease. As doctors, we need to recognize what that means to people, understand their anxiety level.”

New Treatments for Lung Cancer at Penn

Christine Wilson, cancer survivor, shares her experiences from the Abramson Cancer Center’s 2012- Focus on Lung Cancer Conference. In this blog, she discusses new treatments in radiation and proton therapies for lung cancer patients. 


"At Penn, we care about the total patient experience,” says John Kucharczuk, MD. “ We know that for most people, the diagnosis of lung cancer is their first experience with this disease. As doctors, we need to recognize what that means to people, understand their anxiety level.”

Surgery for Lung Cancer

At Penn, the highest quality of surgical care for lung cancer encompasses understanding what it means to have this disease and undergo treatment. Penn has one of the largest divisions of thoracic surgery in the country, one that includes a dedicated surgical unit staffed with nurses who care only for patients who have undergone this kind of surgery.

Surgeons work as a team with experts from other disciplines to assure optimal care for every patient, and are leaders in developing new technologies and approaches that minimize the invasiveness of surgery, while maximizing the therapeutic effect. These include innovative approaches to lung sparing surgery, robotic platforms and the use of photosensitizers to improve local control of tumors.

Skill and technology are critical, but underlying the Penn program is an active commitment to preserving quality of life for patients. To Dr. Kucharczuk and his team, that involves engaging with each patient to understand what quality of life means to that person, and working to tailor the treatment to the individual.

Radiation and Proton Therapy for Lung Cancer

"Lung cancer treatment is a 'team sport.' We see ourselves as a group of physicians who have the privilege of caring for you. Effective treatment is truly a partnership with our patients." Ramesh Rengan, MD.

For many lung cancer patients, radiation therapy is an important part of their treatment. Penn offers a number of options to patients with most kinds and stages of lung cancer. These include:

• Conventional radiation therapy utilizing 3-D imaging and IMRT
• Protons
• Stereotactic body radiation

Charles Simone, MD, emphasized that there are two major components in delivering effective radiation therapy to lung cancer patients.

• Where is the cancer? This means locating the tumor as precisely as possible. Penn is one of the few centers that has integrated PET scanning and metabolic evaluation of tumors into this process.
• How do we target the cancer? This means getting as much of the radiation dose to the tumor while sparing normal tissue.

The exact type of radiation used depends on the patient--the kind and extent of the cancer, and the overall health or other conditions that might exist. Newer options, such as stereotactic body radiation are making it possible to treat older, sicker or more advanced patients.

Proton therapy is another option for patients with locally advanced lung cancers, the most common diagnosis. Penn is one of only eight centers in the United States that offers proton therapy--a technique that allows more precise, targeted delivery of radiation to the tumor. Protons have the potential to reduce side effects from therapy while being equally effective in treating the cancer.

See all the presentations from the Focus On Lung Cancer Conference here. 

Cancer Information From a Reliable Source

Thank you for a fantastic 2012. The Focus On Cancer blog is committed to provide people with cancer and their caregivers educated information from a reliable source, the Abramson Cancer Center at Penn Medicine. Please subscribe to our blog to get updates about new cancer treatments at Penn, credible information from cancer experts at Penn, and inspiration from other people with cancer.

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Patient Story: Proton Therapy for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Kathy Brandt was diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer in 2011 at her local hospital. After much research, and a recommendation from her brother-in-law, who is a physician, Kathy chose Penn Medicine for her lung cancer treatment, which included proton therapy. Today, Kathy is cancer free. 

Watch Kathy Brandt, a patient alum, tell her story about proton therapy for lung cancer. 

You hear the words cancer and it's truly terrifying.

It was basically just a checkup with my pulmonologist because I have emphysema. He sent me for a chest X-ray and that is when they found the tumor in my lung.

It was a terrifying time and thankfully I had strong family surrounding me - strong family helping me make decisions about what kind of treatment I should have.

After that initial diagnosis, when you feel like you have been hit with a ton of bricks, then the decision needs to be made where you are going to seek treatment. My brother-in-law, who is a physician, along with my pulmonologist suggested I go to Penn Medicine for treatment.

Penn Medicine was a wonderful choice for us. They used a team approach. I saw an oncologist, I saw a surgeon, and the radiologist is all located at Penn Medicine. It was very comforting to know that all these people are just working to take care of you and to make you better.

I was diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer at the end of June. My surgery was the beginning of August and chemo started in September. It was finished in November. I started proton therapy for lung cancer in December, which lasted for 4 weeks.

Deciding to Have Proton Therapy for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

I decided to go with the proton radiation because of the cancer’s proximity to my heart and spine. I chose proton therapy because I knew it would be more precise and would have less side effects and that was very important to me.

The Proton Therapy Experience

Every day, I would leave work, come home, and my husband would take me to Penn for proton therapy. After the treatment, we’d go home and I’d spend time with my grandchildren and their parents, who were living with us at the time. My granddaughter was about 3 months old at the time. And I would take her, feed her, and just spend time with the people that meant the most to me.

I really felt wonderful. I continued to work the whole time I had proton therapy – I never missed a day of work, actually. I was a bit more tired than usual, but that was really the only side effect I felt.

When I completed proton therapy, I rang the bell. Everybody in the waiting room clapped, and we went home and I think I had a very big glass of wine after treatment was finished.

After Proton Therapy

Today, I don’t sweat the small stuff.

I would tell anyone to feel very comfortable going to Penn Medicine, and I would tell anyone to also feel very comfortable in choosing proton therapy simply because of the fewer side effects and its extreme precision. I would recommend Penn Medicine wholeheartedly. I cannot say enough good things about my experience.

Learn More About Proton Therapy for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer at Penn Medicine

Proton therapy is a non-invasive, incredibly precise cancer treatment that uses a beam of protons moving at very high speeds to destroy the DNA of cancer cells killing them and preventing them from multiplying.

Unlike conventional radiation that can affect surrounding healthy tissue as it enters the body and targets the tumor, proton therapy’s precise, high dose of radiation is extremely targeted. This targeted precision causes less damage to healthy, surrounding tissue.

Learn more about proton therapy, or schedule a consultation with a radiation oncologist at Penn Medicine.

Watch the full video of Kathy's experience here. 

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Immunotherapy for Lung Cancer

Christine Wilson, cancer survivor, shares her experiences from the Abramson Cancer Center’s 2012- Focus on Lung Cancer Conference. In this blog, she discusses new ways in which lung cancer tumors are being used to create new treatments for lung cancer.

Demystifying the Immune System

"Lung cancer is a formidable foe with many ways of eluding the immune system--but we are developing multiple approaches to using immunotherapy as a treatment option." Gregory Beatty, MD, PhD

Our immune systems are sophisticated, highly evolved and multi-dimensional. They look for and attack invaders. They fight infections, heal wounds and maintain our body health. But do they recognize and fight cancer? And if not, why not?

The answer is complicated. The immune system does, at least in some instances, recognize and attack cancer cells, including lung cancer cells--but in many cases, it fails to eradicate these cells. New research indicates that cancer cells actually develop ways of co-opting the immune system, teaching it to help the cancer grow and spread. This says Dr. Beatty is "bad education," and the goal of immunotherapy research is to re-educate the immune system to attack cancer cells.

At Penn, researchers are using a number of approaches. These include:

• Cancer cells have the ability to produce STOP signals that prevent the immune system from recognizing them. One approach to immunotherapy is to develop specific antibodies that go after these STOP signals and block them. One example is the PD-1 blocking antibody.
• CAR-T or chimeric antigen receptors use specially engineered killer T-cells to attack cancer cells. These T-cells are harvested from the patients, go through an amazing process by which they are "re-programmed" to attack the patient's tumor, and then re-injected. The results for several cancers have been promising--with trials scheduled to begin for non small cell lung cancers.

Right now, there are no immunotherapy agents approved by the FDA to treat lung cancer, but clinical trials are underway in patients with advanced disease, and are planned as adjuvant therapy for patients who undergo potentially curative surgery as a means of reducing the risk if recurrence.

To learn more about immunotherapy clinical trials at Penn, call Abramson Cancer Center Clinical Trials Service Toll Free: 1-855-216-0098, Local: 1-646-354-4221 Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 5:30 pm or email ACCStudies@emergingmed.com

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Surgery, Radiation and Proton Therapy for Lung Cancer Treatment at Penn

Christine Wilson, cancer survivor, shares her experiences from the Abramson Cancer Center’s 2012- Focus on Lung Cancer Conference. In this blog, she discusses new treatments in radiation and proton therapies for lung cancer patients. 


"At Penn, we care about the total patient experience,” says John Kucharczuk, MD. “ We know that for most people, the diagnosis of lung cancer is their first experience with this disease. As doctors, we need to recognize what that means to people, understand their anxiety level.”

Surgery for Lung Cancer

At Penn, the highest quality of surgical care for lung cancer encompasses understanding what it means to have this disease and undergo treatment. Penn has one of the largest divisions of thoracic surgery in the country, one that includes a dedicated surgical unit staffed with nurses who care only for patients who have undergone this kind of surgery.

Surgeons work as a team with experts from other disciplines to assure optimal care for every patient, and are leaders in developing new technologies and approaches that minimize the invasiveness of surgery, while maximizing the therapeutic effect. These include innovative approaches to lung sparing surgery, robotic platforms and the use of photosensitizers to improve local control of tumors.

Skill and technology are critical, but underlying the Penn program is an active commitment to preserving quality of life for patients. To Dr. Kucharczuk and his team, that involves engaging with each patient to understand what quality of life means to that person, and working to tailor the treatment to the individual.

Radiation and Proton Therapy for Lung Cancer

"Lung cancer treatment is a 'team sport.' We see ourselves as a group of physicians who have the privilege of caring for you. Effective treatment is truly a partnership with our patients." Ramesh Rengan, MD.

For many lung cancer patients, radiation therapy is an important part of their treatment. Penn offers a number of options to patients with most kinds and stages of lung cancer. These include:

• Conventional radiation therapy utilizing 3-D imaging and IMRT
• Protons
• Stereotactic body radiation

Charles Simone, MD, emphasized that there are two major components in delivering effective radiation therapy to lung cancer patients.

• Where is the cancer? This means locating the tumor as precisely as possible. Penn is one of the few centers that has integrated PET scanning and metabolic evaluation of tumors into this process.
• How do we target the cancer? This means getting as much of the radiation dose to the tumor while sparing normal tissue.

The exact type of radiation used depends on the patient--the kind and extent of the cancer, and the overall health or other conditions that might exist. Newer options, such as stereotactic body radiation are making it possible to treat older, sicker or more advanced patients.

Proton therapy is another option for patients with locally advanced lung cancers, the most common diagnosis. Penn is one of only eight centers in the United States that offers proton therapy--a technique that allows more precise, targeted delivery of radiation to the tumor. Protons have the potential to reduce side effects from therapy while being equally effective in treating the cancer.

See all the presentations from the Focus On Lung Cancer Conference here. 

Read More