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Also, you can get information about coping from NCI’s Cancer Information Service at 1–800–4–CANCER (1–800–422–6237). Or, chat using NCI’s instant messaging service, LiveHelp (https://livehelp.cancer.gov). Doctors Who Treat Lung Cancer Your health care team will include specialists. There are many ways to find doctors who treat lung cancer: ■ Your doctor may be able to refer you to specialists. ■ You can ask a local or state medical society, or a nearby hospital or medical school for names of specialists.
You and your doctor will develop a treatment plan. 11 ■ NCI’s Cancer Information Service can give you information about treatment centers near you. Call 1–800–4–CANCER (1–800–422–6237). Or, chat using LiveHelp (https://livehelp.cancer.gov), NCI’s instant messaging service. ■ Other sources can be found in the NCI fact sheet How To Find a Doctor or Treatment Facility If You Have Cancer. Your health care team may include the following specialists: ■ Chest surgeon: A chest surgeon (thoracic surgeon) specializes in surgery on the lungs and other organs inside the chest. You may wish to find an expert in lung cancer surgery. ■ Thoracic surgical oncologist: A thoracic surgical oncologist is a surgeon who specializes in surgeries on lung tumors and other tumors found inside the chest. ■ Medical oncologist: A medical oncologist is a doctor who specializes in treating cancer with drugs, such as chemotherapy and targeted therapy. ■ Radiation oncologist: A radiation oncologist is a doctor who specializes in treating cancer with radiation therapy. Your health care team may also include an oncology nurse, a social worker, and a registered dietitian. If you have trouble breathing, your doctor may refer you to a pulmonologist (lung specialist) or a respiratory therapist. Your health care team can describe your treatment options, the expected results of each option, and the possible side effects. Because cancer treatments often damage healthy cells and tissues, side effects are common. These side effects depend on many factors, including the type of treatment. 12 Side effects may not be the same for everyone, and they may even change from one treatment session to the next. You and your health care team can work together to develop a treatment plan. Lung cancer is hard to control with current treatments. For that reason, many doctors encourage people with this disease to consider taking part in a research study (clinical trial) of new treatment methods. Research studies are an important option for people with any stage of lung cancer. See the Cancer Treatment Research section on page 24. Questions you may want to ask your doctor about treatment options.
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