Lung Cancer

The Scott & White Lung Cancer Team is a multidisciplinary group of physicians, nurses and other health care professionals with the experience to provide expert, compassionate care for patients diagnosed with primary lung cancer. In our collaborative environment, you'll meet one-on-one with the healthcare professionals involved in your treatment. Working together with you, we'll determine the best treatment plan.

With compassion and special attention to quality of life, our ultimate goal is to improve the survival rate of patients who are faced with lung cancer.

As part of the Scott & White Cancer Institute, we're able to ensure that each patient is evaluated in a timely manner to facilitate the care for patients who may require a combination of surgery, chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy. We can also screen potentially-qualifying patients for clinical trials that are available for lung cancer.

How to Make Referrals

Patients may be referred to the Lung Cancer Team through several sources.

Referrals by a Scott & White physician can be made by calling the Lung Cancer Nurse Coordinator at 254-724-3675. If the insurance provider allows, patients who have a diagnosis of lung cancer may also refer themselves for an appointment by contacting the nurse coordinator at 254-724-3675.

When referred by a physician outside the Scott & White system, the request is made through the Physician Referral Office at 254-724-2218 or 1-800-792-3368. Experienced personnel determine whether a patient is being referred for a consultation and/or treatment of a newly-diagnosed lung cancer and contact the nurse coordinator once the patient is registered into the system. The nurse coordinator will work with the patient and the physician to ensure that the appropriate medical information is available at the time of the appointment.

How the Lung Cancer Treatment Team Works

• Our patients benefit from the skills of a multidisciplinary team of specialists who are experts in the treatment of lung cancer. Medical specialties involved, depending on the individual patient, could include pulmonary medicine, medical oncology, radiation oncology and/or thoracic surgery. In addition, patients meet with a financial counselor and a social worker. Cancer researchers may also be involved for those patients under consideration for participating in a clinical trial.
• Meeting with an experienced financial counselor allows the patient to ask questions regarding insurance and billing. This meeting can help put the patient's mind at ease as he/she makes important decisions about their care. The oncology social worker talks with the patient about a range of issues including social services and financial assistance options, as well as providing information about cancer support groups and other resources. A Scott & White chaplain is also available if requested by the patient.
• Scott & White's state-of-the-art care for the patient with lung cancer could involve physicians from more than one department. Depending on the patient's case, the patient could meet with a medical oncologist (doctors who give drugs to help fight cancer), a radiation oncologist (doctors who use radiation to help fight cancer) and/or a thoracic surgeon. At this time, a thorough medical history is taken and a complete physical exam is performed. Laboratory, radiology, and pathology results are reviewed and discussed with the patient. Possible treatment options, as well as expectations during and following treatment, including participation in clinical trials, are then discussed with the patient.
• Patients and their families are encouraged to visit the Glenda Tanner Vasicek Cancer Treatement Center at Scott & White Hospital in Temple, TX, to explore the resources available to help them deal with issues that may occur following a cancer diagnosis. Educational pamphlets, books, videos and tapes are available as well as designated computer stations to allow patients to access the internet to search for cancer information. Staff is available to answer questions and locate information for patients as well as providing general information regarding chemotherapy and healthy lifestyles.
• Following the their appointments with the appropriate Lung Cancer Team specialist, the patient's case is presented at the Lung Cancer Tumor Board (a meeting attended by the specialists) where a treatment plan, specifically tailored for that patient, is developed utilizing information obtained from the patient's visits with the Lung Cancer Team. The patient is also screened for possible participation in clinical trials.
• Following the Lung Cancer Tumor Board meeting, the proposed treatment plan is discussed with the patient by his/her physician. By this time, it is hoped that the patient has received adequate information from us regarding their diagnosis and possible treatment options to allow them to make an informed decision about their care.

Cancer Research

Scott & White participates in national research groups and industry-supported studies on new therapies. Many of the protocols offered at other institutions are also available at Scott & White, offering the patient the benefit of state-of-the-art care in a more patient-friendly environment.

If you are interested in information on clinical trials available for lung cancer treatment at Scott & White, please contact us at 254-724-1053 or 800-882-4366.

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