"Every Journey Needs a North Star"
"For centuries, the North Star has guided travelers through uncertainty. A diagnosis of lung cancer often leaves patients and families feeling lost, overwhelmed, and unsure of what to do next. The NorthStar Lung Cancer Alliance was created to provide trusted information, expert guidance, and hope — helping every patient navigate their journey with confidence."
— Dr. Prabhakaran U, Lung Cancer Specialist · KG Hospital, Coimbatore
The NorthStar Mission
Breaking the silence around lung cancer. Helping patients and families recognise warning signs early — before the disease advances beyond the reach of curative surgery.
Ensuring every patient receives the right investigations — CT, PET-CT, biopsy, molecular testing — before any treatment decision is made. The right diagnosis changes everything.
Fellowship-trained surgical expertise in Uniportal VATS and Robotic lung cancer surgery — world-class care available right here in Coimbatore.
Walking alongside patients and families through diagnosis, surgery, recovery, and beyond. No patient should face lung cancer alone — or without hope.
Understanding the Disease
Lung cancer occurs when cells in the lung grow abnormally and form a tumour. It is the leading cause of cancer death worldwide — killing more people each year than breast, colon, and prostate cancers combined. Yet when detected early, it is one of the most treatable cancers.
The tragedy of lung cancer in India is that 70% of patients present at Stage III or IV — when the cancer has spread beyond the lung. At this stage, cure is much harder to achieve. But Stage I lung cancer — the cancer we must find — has a 5-year survival rate of 70–90% with surgery.
This is the mission of the NorthStar Alliance: to move the clock back. To find lung cancer at Stage I, not Stage IV. To ensure that patients in Coimbatore and Tamil Nadu have access to the best minimally invasive surgical expertise — right here, without leaving home.
Early Detection Saves Lives
Lung cancer often causes no symptoms in early stages. By the time symptoms appear, the disease may have advanced. Recognising these warning signs and acting on them promptly can be life-saving.
A new cough lasting more than 3 weeks — especially in a smoker — must be investigated with a chest X-ray immediately.
Haemoptysis (blood in sputum) — even a tiny amount — is an urgent red flag requiring immediate investigation.
New or worsening shortness of breath — particularly without a known cause — needs chest imaging.
Persistent chest pain — especially worsening with breathing, coughing, or laughing — must not be dismissed.
Losing more than 5 kg in a few months without trying is a classic warning sign of internal malignancy.
New, unexplained hoarseness can indicate a tumour pressing on the nerve supplying the vocal cord.
Repeated pneumonia or bronchitis in the same area of the lung is a warning sign — a tumour may be obstructing the airway.
Pain in the shoulder or inner arm (Pancoast syndrome) can occur when a tumour grows at the top of the lung.
Swelling of the face, neck, or arms (superior vena cava syndrome) can occur when a tumour compresses a major vein.
Persistent, severe tiredness not explained by lifestyle — especially combined with other symptoms — warrants investigation.
⚠️ Act Now: Any of these symptoms lasting more than 3 weeks in an adult over 40 — particularly a smoker — warrants urgent investigation. Do not wait. A chest X-ray and CT scan take minutes and could save your life.
Who is at Risk
Responsible for 85% of lung cancers. Risk increases proportionally with the number of pack-years smoked. The most preventable cause.
Long-term exposure to second-hand smoke nearly doubles lung cancer risk — even in non-smokers.
Asbestos, arsenic, chromium, nickel, coal dust, and diesel exhaust. Construction, mining, and industrial workers at higher risk.
Both outdoor (vehicle/industrial emissions) and indoor (cooking fires, biomass fuel) air pollution — particularly relevant in India's cities.
Naturally occurring radioactive gas that accumulates in poorly ventilated spaces. A significant cause of lung cancer in non-smokers.
First-degree relatives of lung cancer patients carry higher risk — even without smoking. Genetic susceptibility plays a role.
COPD, pulmonary fibrosis, and previous tuberculosis (TB) — all common in India — increase lung cancer risk significantly.
Prior radiotherapy to the chest (e.g. for lymphoma or breast cancer) increases the long-term risk of lung cancer.
Stop smoking today. Quitting at any age reduces lung cancer risk. After 10 years of cessation, risk drops to approximately half that of a current smoker. Get help and support →
Understanding Your Diagnosis
Staging tells us how far the cancer has spread and guides treatment decisions. The most important message: stage determines outcome — and early detection changes stage.
The difference between Stage I and Stage IV is often just a few months — and whether a symptom was investigated or ignored. Early detection is the most powerful treatment we have.
Your NorthStar Roadmap
From first symptom to long-term survival — here is what to expect at every stage of the journey:
You notice a warning sign — cough, haemoptysis, breathlessness, weight loss. Do not wait. See a doctor within 2 weeks. Ask for a chest X-ray.
Chest X-ray → CT scan of chest. If a suspicious lesion is found, you will be referred to a lung cancer specialist. Bring all your scans and reports.
Dr. Prabhakaran reviews your CT scan, assesses your fitness, and plans the next steps. You will never leave a consultation without knowing what happens next.
PET-CT scan, biopsy, EBUS, pulmonary function tests, brain MRI if needed, blood tests. We must know the exact extent of disease before any treatment decision.
Your case is presented at a multidisciplinary tumour board — oncologists, radiologists, pathologists all review together. Treatment is never decided by one doctor alone.
Uniportal VATS or Robotic lung cancer surgery. Single 3–4 cm incision. Home in 2–3 days. Fellowship-trained expertise — right here in Coimbatore.
Breathing exercises, physiotherapy, graduated return to activity. Most patients are back to normal life within 3 weeks of VATS surgery.
Regular CT scans at 3 months, 6 months, then annually. Early detection of recurrence dramatically improves outcomes. You are never just discharged — you are followed.
Modern Lung Cancer Treatment
Single 3–4 cm incision. Complete lobe removal. Home in 2–3 days. Fellowship trained at Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, China — the world's highest-volume VATS centre.
Da Vinci X certified. 3D magnified vision, tremor-free precision, articulating instruments. Superior for complex central tumours near major vessels.
Before surgery (neoadjuvant — to shrink tumours), after surgery (adjuvant — reduce recurrence), or as primary treatment for advanced SCLC and NSCLC.
Oral medications targeting EGFR, ALK, ROS1, BRAF mutations. Dramatically effective in selected patients — often with fewer side effects than chemotherapy.
PD-1/PDL-1 inhibitors that activate the immune system against cancer. Can achieve durable responses. Used as first-line in selected Stage IV patients.
Stereotactic Ablative Radiotherapy — high-dose, precisely targeted radiation for Stage I patients who cannot undergo surgery. Excellent local control.
The most powerful weapon against lung cancer is finding it before it causes symptoms. Low-Dose CT (LDCT) screening has been proven to reduce lung cancer death by 20–24% in high-risk individuals — the largest mortality benefit of any cancer screening programme.
Dr. Prabhakaran recommends annual LDCT screening for individuals meeting ALL of the following criteria:
Age 50–80
Current or ex-smoker (quit within last 15 years)
20+ pack-years (1 pack/day × 20 years)
Attend KG Hospital, Coimbatore for assessment
Even if you do not meet all criteria but have a strong family history, occupational exposure, or previous lung disease — please discuss screening with Dr. Prabhakaran at your consultation.
📞 Book Screening ConsultationYour NorthStar Guide
With over 1,000 cancer surgeries and fellowship training at India's premier cancer institute (Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai) and the world's highest-volume thoracic surgery centre (Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, China), Dr. Prabhakaran brings internationally trained expertise to the patients of Coimbatore and Tamil Nadu.
"My goal is simple: To transform lung cancer care in India by empowering patients with trusted knowledge, early screening, precise diagnosis, expert treatment, and compassionate support at every step of their journey."
NorthStar Answers
Whatever stage you or your loved one is at — just diagnosed, seeking a second opinion, planning surgery, or looking for guidance — Dr. Prabhakaran U and the NorthStar Lung Cancer Alliance are here for you. Expert care. Trusted guidance. Real hope.
KG Hospital, Coimbatore · Monday–Saturday · 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM