Lung Cancer Treatment

Treatment for lung cancer is not "one size fits all." For each person, the best approach depends on several factors, including the type of lung cancer, how far the cancer has progressed, other health problems, the side effects of treatment and how successful treatment is likely to be. Often, a combination of treatments is the best approach.

According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), options for treating lung cancer include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy and photodynamic therapy. Procedures for the treatment of lung cancer include:

Surgery
Chemotherapy
Radiation
Photodynamic therapy
Clinical trials

What St. Agnes Offers

The Lung Cancer Treatment Center at St. Agnes Hospital takes a multidisciplinary approach to the diagnosis and treatment of lung tumors. The center includes a team of experts in: thoracic surgery; pulmonology; medical oncology; and radiation oncology. The services of this team are available in one location.

Patients with newly diagnosed lung nodule or an established diagnosis of the thoracic malignancy are seen on Thursday afternoons in the St. Agnes Cancer Center and later that day discussed in the multidisciplinary Lung Tumor Board. Lung Tumor Board recommendations are communicated to the referring physician.

Click here to download a lung cancer center referral form.

I-ELCAP

Lung cancer is difficult to detect, and early diagnosis offers the best chance to beat this devastating disease. St. Agnes is the only area hospital that participates in the International Early Lung Cancer Action Program (I-ELCAP).

If you are 50 or older and currently smoking or have a history of smoking, you qualify for this study. For a $75 fee you will undergo a screening CT scan. Follow up by a pulmonologist is available for any abnormal findings.

To make an appointment, call 866-690-WELL (9355) and select option 2. For more information on the Lung Cancer Treatment Center, call 410-368-2872.