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The Lung Cancer Specialty Care Center brings together a multidisciplinary team of leading experts in surgical oncology, medical oncology, radiation oncology, pulmonology, pathology, radiology, pain management, and palliative care. Treatment strategies are developed in tandem with referring physicians, and often involve surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or a combination of treatments and clinical trials when appropriate.
The Lung Cancer Specialty Care Center employs comprehensive, state-of-the-art diagnostic evaluations, including endobronchial ultrasound, endoscopic ultrasound, as well as a detailed radiographic evaluation, a bronchoscopic biopsy, or needle biopsy, to assist the treatment team in determining the best course for treatment. Thoracic surgeons also may be asked to perform a minimally invasive biopsy of the lung lesion.
UPMC surgeons have particular expertise in a number of highly specialized technologies and minimally invasive surgical procedures to remove tumors of the lung, including:
Medical oncologists specializing in lung cancer offer a full range of chemotherapy and biologic targeted therapies for all types and stages of cancer. Patients have access to the latest therapies and clinical trials through our collaboration with the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute (UPCI), western Pennsylvania’s only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center.
When appropriate, lung cancer patients are placed on a clinical pathway, a disease-specific treatment strategy developed by UPMC Cancer Centers physicians to ensure that all patients receive the same evidence-based care. Each pathway combines innovative and promising clinical trial options with the best standard of care therapies. Ongoing review by the clinical team ensures that each pathway remains to be the best and most effective treatment option available.
Patients have access to the largest variety of advanced radiation planning and delivery systems available in western Pennsylvania.