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Lung Cancer

Lung Cancer Treatment at Jefferson

Lung cancer can present as a lump, a mass or a nodule on a chest X-ray. Sometimes these can be detected incidentally on an X-ray. Jefferson's Lung Nodule Clinic is a unique program that systematically evaluates, manages and diagnoses patients with shadows on the X-ray.

If you are at high risk of lung cancer, Jefferson also offers state-of-the-art screening methods such as the use of low-dose CT of the chest (LDCT) through our multidisciplinary program. Recent studies suggest that screening can improve survival from early detection of lung cancer by as much as 20 percent. Early detection and diagnosis is exceptionally important for good outcomes.

If you are diagnosed with lung cancer, the experienced team of Jefferson's Thoracic Oncology Program can carefully guide you through available treatment options that address all your medical, emotional and spiritual needs. One of only a few programs in the U.S. providing such an advanced level of lung cancer treatment and research, our Program brings together Jefferson specialists with extensive expertise in treating lung cancer to address every aspect of your care.

Rated among the best hospitals in the nation for Cancer, according to U.S.News & World Report, you will be continually evaluated from diagnosis through your entire course of treatment by a team of specialists that, depending on your needs, may include pulmonologists, surgeons, oncologists, radiologists, pathologists, gastroenterologists, complementary medicine specialists and support program facilitators.

Expert Cancer Care

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See what puts Jefferson among the best in the nation for cancer treatment.

Nationally Rated

U.S. News Best Hospitals in Cancer 2012-13
Among the Best in Cancer
Rated nationally by U.S.News & World Report.

Thoracic Oncology

Thoracic Oncology Program
Thoracic Oncology Program
Care for patients with lung cancer or other types of cancers in the chest.

Lung Nodule Clinic

Lung Image
Lung Nodule Clinic
One of the first dedicated clinics in the Delaware Valley to further evaluate lung nodules
At the Forefront of New Lung Cancer Treatments

Our Thoracic Oncology Program is at the forefront of using new drugs and new combinations of radiation therapy, surgery and chemotherapy to improve the treatment success of patients with every type of lung cancer. If conventional therapies have proven ineffective for you, you may be able to gain access to new or experimental therapies for lung cancer through national clinical trials in which Jefferson participates.

The Program's physicians and researchers have helped develop advances in the treatment of lung cancer. State-of-the-art lung cancer programs and treatments available at Jefferson include:

  • Lung Nodule Clinic for a systematic approach to evaluation of all lung nodules
  • Bronchoscopy with specialized endobronchial ultrasound-guided (EBUS) biopsy for noninvasive staging and diagnosis
  • Minimally invasive video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) lobectomy, which involves the introduction into the chest of a video camera that transmits a picture to a video monitor. This allows our surgeons to see structures within the chest so they can remove tissue samples to have them checked for cancer.
  • Brachytherapy, or internal radiation treatment, involving the implantation of tiny radioactive seeds at the site of the tumor, which, compared with external radiation therapy, allows for a higher dose of radiation to be safely administered. Jefferson is one of the only medical centers in the Delaware Valley to offer this procedure.
  • An experimental light treatment called photodynamic therapy, which may reduce the need of lung removal if your lung cancer has spread in the chest cavity
Support Programs for Your Needs

Through the Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine Division and the Kimmel Cancer Center at Jefferson, we can also provide you and your family a support network that includes specially trained nurses, educators, fellow patients and cancer survivors.

Among the wide variety of support programs offered at Jefferson is our Buddy Program, which matches cancer patients with trained volunteer cancer survivors who have been through treatment themselves. These volunteers provide one-on-one support either over the telephone or on-site in the waiting area at the Bodine Center for Radiation Therapy/Kimmel Cancer Center at Jefferson.

You can also access services to meet your emotional and psychological needs during your course of treatment through the Jefferson-Myrna Brind Center for Integrative Medicine.