The Latest Lung Cancer Treatments
Treating lung and thoracic cancers has become more advanced and precise than ever before. Our lung and thoracic surgeons perform minimally invasive video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) and use robotic surgical technology whenever possible. Interventional procedures, such as radiofrequency ablation, are also used for patients who are not surgical candidates.
Advanced Lung Cancer Treatment Options
Our cancer centers offer a wide range of special programs, bringing together world-class expertise, technology and innovative lung cancer treatment options to help patients attain the best possible outcomes while focusing on their total health and wellness.
Radiotherapeutic techniques for lung cancer and thoracic cancer, such as 3D conformal radiotherapy, brachytherapy and body radiosurgery, give you better options to pinpoint and treat lesions and recover more quickly.
Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery
One of the latest modernizations in treating conditions of the chest is video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). This minimally invasive surgical treatment uses a special video camera called a thoracoscope to remove part of a lung or drain fluid on the lung. It is beneficial because it uses smaller incisions than traditional surgery, allowing patients to recover more quickly. Anesthesia is used during the procedure and antibiotics are used to prevent infection.
3D Conformal Radiotherapy
This technique can shift the shape of radiation beams to match the form of a tumor. Ideally, it is used for tumors that have irregular shapes or are closely located to healthy organs and tissues. This precision lung cancer treatment allows specialists to give the appropriate dose of radiation to cancerous cells with less impact on healthy areas of the body surrounding it.
Brachytherapy
This is radiation therapy delivered directly into your body that is placed as close to cancer as possible. The radiation is delivered using radioactive isotopes (chemical elements) inside implants, which are devices such as wires, seeds, or rods.
Overall, this lung cancer treatment allows your oncologist to use a higher total dose of radiation over a shorter time than is possible with external beam therapy. It does less damage to normal cells that are nearby cancerous cells, offering more precision when destroying cancer cells.
Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT)
Also known as stereotactic radiosurgery, SBRT is a precise form of radiation treatment used by radiation oncologists.
Even though it is called surgery, radiosurgery does not involve actual surgery. Instead, accurate beams of radiation (x-rays or protons) are used to target and treat cancerous tissues without a surgical incision or opening.
SBRT allows high doses of radiation to be delivered through a few treatment sessions, providing similar results to actual surgical procedures.
Your oncologist can help you determine if SBRT is right for you. Several types of radiation devices can be used to deliver SBRT treatments, including proton therapy, CyberKnife, tomotherapy and linear accelerators with image guidance capabilities.
Clinical Trials
We have access to innovative lung cancer clinical trials, offering local patients with metastatic or unresponsive disease access to global cancer research. Contact us to find out if you are a candidate for one of our clinical trials.
View Lung Cancer Clinical Trials
Talk to your doctor about the lung cancer treatments available for your type and stage of cancer. They can explain all of the risks and benefits of each lung cancer treatment, as well as their side effects.
Multidisciplinary Care
Taking a team approach to care, our oncologists emphasize the comprehensive evaluation of patients with a close collaboration of multiple specialists including surgical oncologists, radiation oncologists, pulmonologists, radiologists, pathologists, nurses, pharmacists and social workers. We ensure that our patients receive the most effective treatment. This may involve one or more cancer therapies given simultaneously or consecutively.
Our Oncology Nurse Navigators Will Guide You Through Your Lung or Thoracic Cancer Journey
Our oncology nurse navigators help patients through the entire lung and thoracic cancer journey, from securing initial appointments to coordinating follow-up visits related to treatments and procedures, all the way through aspects of survivorship. Oncology nurse navigators also can refer you to social workers or financial counselors for matters about health insurance, financial and other challenges.
To schedule an appointment with one of New Jersey’s best lung and thoracic cancer specialists, call 844-CANCERNJ or 844-226-2376.