Chest & Lung
Chest and lung care (pulmonology and thoracic surgery) treats diseases of the lungs, airways and chest — including asthma, COPD, pneumonia, lung cancer, pulmonary nodules and pleural disease. Care combines breathing tests, imaging and bronchoscopy to diagnose, and medication, minimally invasive (keyhole) thoracic surgery and oncology treatments to treat.
Medically reviewed by the Florence Healthcare medical team · Last reviewed June 2026
Overview
The lungs and airways supply the oxygen every cell needs, so chest disease can profoundly affect daily life. Conditions range from common chronic illnesses such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) to acute infections such as pneumonia, and to serious problems including lung cancer and pleural disease.
Diagnosis combines breathing (lung function) tests, chest imaging and, where needed, bronchoscopy — passing a thin camera into the airways to inspect them and take samples. When surgery is required, minimally invasive video-assisted (VATS) and robotic techniques allow lung operations through small incisions, with less pain and a faster recovery than open surgery.
For patients travelling for lung surgery or thoracic cancer care, a remote review of CT scans and reports before travel confirms the diagnosis and clarifies whether surgery, systemic therapy or a combined approach is recommended.
Common conditions we treat
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Long-term airflow limitation, usually from smoking, managed with medication, oxygen and pulmonary rehabilitation.
Lung cancer
A leading cause of cancer death, treated with surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy or targeted drugs depending on stage.
Pulmonary nodules
Small spots on the lung found on imaging that require assessment to determine whether they are benign or need treatment.
Pleural disease & effusion
Fluid or disease in the lining around the lungs, sometimes drained or biopsied to diagnose and relieve symptoms.
Symptoms
- Shortness of breath or wheezing
- A persistent or worsening cough
- Coughing up blood or blood-stained phlegm
- Chest pain, especially on breathing deeply
- Recurrent chest infections
- Unexplained weight loss or fatigue
- Reduced exercise tolerance
- Noisy breathing or a sensation of chest tightness
When to seek care
Call emergency services for sudden severe breathlessness, coughing up significant blood, or chest pain with breathing difficulty — these can signal a pulmonary embolism, collapsed lung or other emergency.
How we diagnose
- Chest X-ray and CT scan
- Pulmonary (lung) function tests
- Bronchoscopy and biopsy
- PET-CT for staging lung cancer
- Blood tests and arterial blood gases
- Pleural fluid sampling
How we treat it
Treatment is tailored to your diagnosis. Explore the procedures we offer for this area:
Where you'll be treated
Care for this area is led by our Comprehensive Oncology Center.
Learn more
Plain-language, provider-reviewed articles on tests, procedures and symptoms in our Health Library.
Chest & Lung — frequently asked questions
Both cause breathlessness and airway narrowing, but asthma is typically reversible and often begins in childhood, with symptoms triggered by allergens or exercise. COPD is largely irreversible, usually develops later and is most often caused by smoking. Treatment overlaps but is tailored to the specific condition.
A lung nodule is a small spot on the lung, often discovered incidentally. Most are benign, such as old scars or healed infections. Depending on its size and appearance, doctors may recommend monitoring with repeat scans or further tests such as PET-CT or biopsy to confirm whether treatment is needed.
Treatment depends on the type and stage. Early, localized lung cancer is often treated with surgery, increasingly using minimally invasive techniques. More advanced disease may be treated with radiotherapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy or targeted drugs, frequently in combination, as decided by a multidisciplinary team.
Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) and robotic surgery allow lung operations through several small incisions rather than a large one, using a camera and specialized instruments. For suitable patients this can mean less pain, a shorter hospital stay and a faster recovery than traditional open surgery.
Stopping smoking is the single most effective step for lung health. While existing damage such as COPD may not fully reverse, quitting slows further decline, reduces symptoms and infections, and significantly lowers the risk of lung cancer and heart disease over time.
Yes. By sharing your CT scans and reports, specialists can provide an independent opinion remotely on the diagnosis and recommended treatment — including whether surgery is appropriate — before you decide to travel.
Concerned about chest & lung?
Share your reports for a free, no-obligation second opinion and a transparent cost estimate — usually within 48 hours.