Lung cancer is an epidemic responsible for over one million deaths world-wide this
year alone. In the United States it will cause almost 170,000 people to die a cancer
related death. Lung cancer is the number one cause of cancer deaths in both women
and men. In women it will cause more deaths than breast and ovarian cancer combined.
As with most cancers, lung cancer is curable when detected at an early stage. The
problem is that the tumors often do not cause any symptoms until they have spread,
either to lymph nodes or other parts of the body. By that time it is no longer a
local process, amenable to more limited types of treatment, but a disease that requires
systemic treatment, usually with some form of chemotherapy.
The treatment of lung cancer requires a team dedicated to the management of tumors
occurring in the chest. This team typically consists of a thoracic surgeon, medical
oncologist, radiation oncologist and pulmonologist, all with a devoted interest
in the management of cancer. We are supported by surgical, head and neck, orthopedic
and neurosurgical cancer specialists who provide additional expertise in the management
of very complicated cases.
All components of care, from obtaining a sample of tissue to make a diagnosis, to
accurately staging the extent of the cancer and ultimately to making a plan for
treatment, require a systematic approach. This is especially important in the surgical
component of care.
Data is available that the surgical care provided by a dedicated thoracic surgical
oncologist results in superior long term survival. This does not only mean getting
through the operation but eventually being cured of the lung cancer. Of all the
surgeons trained as Cardiothoracic Surgeons, only 15% have practices limited to
the management of thoracic cancers. And again, the data has demonstrated patients
cared for by these specialists have a better long term survival than when surgery
is provided by a surgeon who mainly performs heart and vascular surgery.
Dr. Rudy Lackner - Minimally Invasive Treatments
The Nebraska Medical Center is fortunate to have an entire team of physicians and
nurses focused on the care of lung cancer patients. There are only two thoracic
surgical oncologists in the state of Nebraska with practices limited to cancer related
disease of the chest, and they practice at The Nebraska Medical Center. Our goal
is to provide a cutting edge approach to the diagnosis, staging and treatment of
lung cancer.
