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Multidisciplinary Lung Clinic

Providing team-based treatment and support to all patients

The Multidisciplinary Lung Cancer Clinic offers a multidisciplinary team of thoracic surgeons, medical and radiation oncologists, pulmonologists, gastroenterologists, radiologists, pathologists and nurses, all working together to help our patients combat their cancer. We provide:

• initial evaluation by a team of providers with experience in all aspects of lung cancer care
  
• the expertise of the Multidisciplinary Thoracic Oncology Conference for consensus treatment decisions
  
• discussion of the multidisciplinary team's recommendations with the patient and family
  
• access to state-of-the-art standard and investigational therapies
  
• an opportunity to meet with an information specialist, dietitian or social worker to discuss concerns or special needs
  
• comprehensive patient education materials
  
• reports to referring physicians

What we need from you

The following information should be delivered to the clinic coordinator at least two days prior to an appointment in the clinic:

• written medical records and reports detailing prior diagnostic or staging evaluations, hospitalizations, pre-existing medical conditions and treatments;
• original films or copies of all radiographic studies related to the current diagnosis (X-rays, CT scans, MRI scans, PET scans, etc); and
• original pathology slides documenting the diagnosis of cancer.

Day of Appointment

Each Friday morning, new patients with known or suspected lung cancer receive an initial evaluation by a team of providers with expertise in the care of patients with lung cancer.

At noon, faculty from thoracic surgery, medical and radiation oncology, pulmonary medicine, radiology and pathology attend a conference, during which patient cases are presented and individualized management plans are formulated.

In the afternoon, the team's recommendations are discussed with the patient and family. Recommendations may include:

• further diagnostic studies, such as a bronchoscopic biopsy or PET scan;
• surgery; including minimally invasive surgical procedures;
• aggressive combined-modality therapy treatment with chemotherapy and radiation therapy;
• palliative procedures to improve quality-of-life, such as radiofrequency ablation or stereotactic surgery; and
• investigational treatment.

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