Health experts talk lung cancer treatment, prevention

According to the CDC, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States.

Wednesday night, doctors and other experts gathered in Jefferson City to put on a free seminar about the latest prevention and treatment options.

“The main thing for this event is to really promote the importance of lung cancer screening and importance of the advances and treatment of lung cancer and lowering the rates of death,” said Dr. Shadi Haddadin.

The event was sponsored by the SSM Health Cancer Center at Jefferson City Medical Group.

Dr. John Bechtel, a Radiation Oncologist, spoke on one specific treatment.

“Stereotactic treatment is a real pinpoint radiation treatment that has basically a comparable cure rate to surgery,” said Dr. Bechtel, “but avoids anesthesia and all of the recovery issues associated with surgery. So, it is a great alternative.”

The CDC has said more than 200,000 people die of lung cancer each year.