Frequently Asked Questions about Lung Cancer
In recognition of Lung Cancer Awareness Month, Massachusetts General Hospital physicians answer common questions related to lung cancer.
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At the Center for Thoracic Cancers, our multidisciplinary team of lung cancer specialists put together a comprehensive treatment plan just for you. Many lung patients benefit from our approach. You will see lung cancer specialists from medical oncology, radiation oncology and surgery. We:
Patients are usually seen within one week of referral.
The Center for Thoracic Cancers is among the first in the nation to provide new targeted therapies for non-small cell lung cancer. Consistently ranked as one of the best in the country by U.S. News & World Report, we provide the promising new therapies and innovative approaches to clinical care, including:
Cancer that begins in any part of the lungs is called lung cancer. The two basic types of lung cancer are non-small cell lung cancer and small cell lung cancer. There is also a third type of lung cancer that is very rare, called mesothelioma.
The American Cancer Society estimated that about 234,030 new cases of lung cancer (both non-small cell and small cell) would be diagnosed in the United States in 2018. It is important to remember that great strides have been made in our understanding of lung cancer. Ways to treat lung cancer have advanced even from just a few years ago.
Find additional educational information about lung cancer.
A cough that does not go away is the most common lung cancer symptom. Symptoms depend on if the cancer is localized or if/where it has spread. Other symptoms include:
The symptoms of lung cancer may look like symptoms of other medical conditions.
These tests and procedures can also help your doctor determine the stage of lung cancer. Staging is a way of describing how much the cancer has grown, how big it is and whether it has spread to other parts of the body. Staging is important because it helps your doctor plan your treatment and determine your outlook (prognosis). Lung cancer has 4 stages, numbered from 1 to 4.
All members of our team of pathologists and radiologists are nationally recognized for their expertise. Our pathologists participate in weekly tumor board meetings, sharing information about each patient’s unique cancer with the entire team to help guide care planning. Our radiologists use the most advanced imaging tools to diagnose and stage thoracic cancers and to detect changes in tumors. Our imaging methods include:
If you are diagnosed with lung cancer, your care team will work with you to develop a treatment plan that is right for you. This plan will depend on the type and stage of your cancer, your general health, and your treatment preferences.
Lung cancer surgery may involve removal of a tumor and some nearby healthy tissue, part of a bronchus, an entire lobe (section) of a lung or an entire lung. Chemotherapy or radiation therapy may also be used to kill any cancer cells left behind.
Our team of dedicated surgeons treats some of the most challenging and complex cases from across the US. We focus only on thoracic surgery and have pioneered many now-standard procedures used to treat thoracic cancers. The team provides state-of-the-art evaluation, treatment and post-surgical services, including:
We offer many minimally invasive surgical procedures, such as:
Other common treatment options for lung cancer include the following:
Specialists in the Thoracic Radiation Oncology Program employ high-precision radiation therapy to treat patients with lung cancers and other cancers in the chest with the overarching goal of causing little or no side effects. Pioneering technological advances for the benefit of our patients include:
Our radiation oncologists are part of a highly specialized multidisciplinary team that closely coordinates the care of each patient. Cutting-edge research aims at increasing the efficacy and reducing the side effects of radiation therapy as well as integrating radiation with revolutionizing biological drug therapies.
For more information, please see the Thoracic Radiation Oncology Program.
Clinical trials are research studies which are conducted to answer questions. They can test many things including new drugs, new combinations of drugs, or already approved drugs being studied to treat patients in new or different ways. They may include new drug doses or new ways (schedules) to give the drugs. Clinical trials are run under strict guidelines with specific criteria for eligibility and treatment. Their purpose is to help find out whether new cancer treatments are safe and effective or better than the standard (current) treatment.
The Mass General Hospital Thoracic Oncology Program has a very active clinical research portfolio with the latest, top-notch investigational studies covering a wide spectrum of thoracic cancer care. The ultimate goal of clinical research is to improve the outcomes for all of our patients. If you are eligible for a clinical trial, your physician will offer you the chance for participation. We will comprehensively review the logistics and purpose of the trial and also offer alternatives including the standard of care.
Find Clinical Trials for Lung Cancer.
Find Targeted Therapy Trials for Lung Cancer.
Our team approach ensures that every patient benefits from a personalized, coordinated and compassionate treatment plan that includes leading experts across many specialties. Members of your care team meet regularly with you and contact your referring physician on an ongoing basis to ensure clear communication and a seamless coordination of care.
Cancer that begins in any part of the lungs is called lung cancer. The two basic types of lung cancer are non-small cell lung cancer and small cell lung cancer.
We work with patients to develop personalized follow-up care following review of CT scans.
A free, phone-based, one-on-one tobacco counseling resource for Cancer Center patients.
This program helps patients keep their hair or reduce how much hair they lose from chemo.
Learn more about Mass General's Thoracic Radiation Oncology Program.
Learn about Mass General's Lung Cancer Surgery Program.
This program helps patients regain physical abilities and maintain independence.
A checklist of items to bring with you for your first visit and helpful information.
We offer a variety of education and support resources to help you and your family.
We offer a wide range of integrative therapies, workshops and support groups.
A simple way to connect with the various resources available to you at the Cancer Center.
These stories highlight the strength, courage and resiliency of our patients, and the coordinated effort of the thoracic oncology team to provide the best possible care.
Jerry Remy
"Cancer has opened up a whole new door to something I was never open with in the past - sharing my personal life."
Yariv Kafri
“Training is about perseverance and setting goals. I want to give the doctors something they can recommend to their patients, just like they’ve given something to me.”
Andy Lindsay
"We felt we were with people who knew what they’re doing and they were so kind. It was such a shining moment."
Linnea Olson
"In my particular case, I wouldn’t be alive if I didn’t come here. I have stage 4 lung cancer and my care here has been just absolutely cutting edge."
Allison and Rich Orpen
"Maybe I can’t cure it, but I can make it better. I can’t see giving in, I’ve got to fight."
Jay Petri
"I was never afraid of coming here. I’ve always felt right at home. I actually enjoy coming here at this point. I have so many friends that have gone beyond the doctor-patient relationship. They are truly friends."
Greg Vrettos
"I was the first patient enrolled in the initial EGFR-targeted therapy clinical trial at Mass General. I didn’t have any hesitancy about starting a clinical trial because I had so much confidence in Mass General and in my team that I believed it had to be the best option.”
Yolonda Colson, MD, PhD, chief of the Division of Thoracic Surgery, and Thoralf Sundt, MD, chief of the Division of Cardiac Surgery, discuss, as well as show, the heightened precautions that have been made in the dept and across the hospital to ensure that every patient’s visit is welcoming & safe.
Lung screening has the potential to detect lung cancer at earlier stages when it has the best chance of being cured. Learn more from Jo-Anne Shepard, MD, Thoracic Radiologist at the Mass General Cancer Center.
Mass General Cancer Center’s Dr. Jennifer Temel explains what patients can expect during a lung cancer multidisciplinary appointment.
Dr. Jennifer Temel talks about a new effort at the Mass General Cancer Center to offer patients who may have a lung cancer diagnosis next day appointments.
Dr. Alice Shaw reflects on the rapidity of advances in lung cancer therapies over the last decade. Dr. Shaw talks about how fortunate she’s been to witness an incredible transformation in the care of lung cancer patients.
Dr. Jennifer Temel, Clinical Director of Thoracic Oncology, discusses the now standard of care for all patients diagnosed with a serious cancer to receive care from both an oncologist and a palliative care clinician.
Watch Dr. Justin Gainor discuss immunotherapy research at Mass General Cancer Center.
Immunotherapy
Watch Dr. Justin Gainor discuss immunotherapy research at Mass General Cancer Center.
Next-generation ALK inhibitors
Watch Dr. Alice Shaw discuss two recent studies on next-generation ALK inhibitors for ALK-positive lung cancer patients.
View thoracic oncology team members honored for their commitment to the fight against cancer.
Justin Gainor, MD
Dr. Gainor conducts intensive research on developing novel targeted therapies for patients with genetically-defined forms of lung cancer and designs clinical trials to evaluate these complex, life-saving treatments.
Natasha Johnson, MSW, LICSW
An attentive listener with a gentle touch, oncology social worker Natasha Johnson takes special care to understand each patient, tailoring suggestions to reflect his or her needs.
Inga T. Lennes, MD, MPH, MBA
A medical oncologist specializing in lung and esophageal cancers, Dr. Lennes is also the founder and director of the Pulmonary Nodule Clinic and works closely with colleagues to study and implement lung cancer screening and improve nodule management.
Lecia Sequist, MD, MPH
Dr. Sequist provides outstanding and compassionate patient care. Her patients trust her, and she is at the top of her game both in the care of lung cancer patients and in leading research and education to advance current care.
Alice T. Shaw, MD, PhD
Alice Shaw, MD, PhD treats her patients with the best of science and the best of humanity. “Alice is my super-hero. She is contributing to the future of cancer research and treatment. And she is doing her best to make sure I have a future as well.”
Jennifer Temel, MD
"Fighting alongside us every step of the way, Dr. Temel gave us world-class medical care and guidance."
Your gift will help our team advance research into new, targeted therapies to improve outcomes for patients with lung cancer. Make a gift.
We are here for you, just as we have always been here for you. We offer you, still, the best chance for the best outcome and a commitment to safety.
Our support programs can help patients and their families cope with the challenges of a cancer diagnosis.
This helped lead to new knowledge and breakthrough therapies.
In recognition of Lung Cancer Awareness Month, Massachusetts General Hospital physicians answer common questions related to lung cancer.
Lung screening has the potential to detect lung cancer at earlier stages when it has the best chance of being cured. Learn more in this video from Jo-Anne Shepard, MD, Thoracic Radiologist at the Mass General Cancer Center.
Contact us to make an appointment or to learn more about our programs.