Lung Cancer Treatment Close to Home
Every year, nearly 200,000 people are diagnosed with lung cancer. It is the #1 deadliest cancer among men and women. From screening to treatment, we have a team of experts providing the care you need right here in the Black Hills.
Who is at Risk?
- Ages 55 through 77 years old.
- 30 pack-year history of smoking (this means 1 pack a day for 30 years, 2 packs a day for 15 years, etc.)
- I am a current smoker, or have quit within the last 15 years.
If you are at risk, what are your next steps?
If you fit the above criteria, speak with your Primary Care provider on available screening options. If your screening reveals an abnormal result, your Primary Care provider will refer you to a Pulmonologist to develop a plan on further testing to determine if it is cancerous. If diagnosed with lung cancer your Pulmonologist will work along side Monument Health’s experts to develop a personalized care plan.
Monument Health’s Lung Cancer Team:
Your lung cancer care team might include professionals you have never thought of seeing before, each trained in a special area. Everyone should work together to give you the best care possible.
Medical oncologists are physicians who specialize in systemic therapy (i.e. chemotherapy) for the treatment of cancer. You may encounter them in the outpatient clinic or in the hospital. They will determine if you are a candidate for chemotherapy, what type of chemotherapy you will receive and the duration of your treatment. They will frequently monitor your condition while you are receiving chemotherapy and help minimize the side effects of treatment.
Radiation oncologists are physicians who specialize in the use of radiation therapy to treat cancer. Their focus is to design a treatment plan and direct radiation therapy. Radiation oncologists work closely with an array of other health care providers including: radiation oncology nurses, medical physicists, radiation therapists and dosimetrists. They will help you choose the most effective radiation therapy for your cancer.
Thoracic surgeons are physicians who specialize in chest surgery, which includes the chest wall, mediastinum, lungs, esophagus and diaphragm. They perform diagnostic proce?dures and surgical treatment for patients with lung cancer. During your evaluation, the surgeons will assess how fit you are for surgery. This may involve obtaining laboratory tests or specialized studies. Prior to treatment, they will discuss the options for surgery and be the primary physicians managing your care in the hospital after surgery.
A pulmonologist is a physician who specializes in diseases of the airway and lungs. If you are found to have a spot (or nodule) on your lungs on chest x-ray or a CT scan, they may be the first physicians you will see in consultation. Their focus is to help determine if the nodule is a lung cancer and aid in obtaining a diagnosis. This includes performing various procedures such as bronchoscopy and biopsies.
A radiologist is a physician who specializes in reading body imaging (x-rays, computed tomography (CT) scans and Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scans). They aid in diagnosis of lung cancer and can perform CT-guided biopsies of tumors.
Doctors & Providers
At Monument Health, we offer individualized lung cancer care tailored to you.
Ask your primary care provider if you qualify for this screening test. To find a primary care provider near you, click here.
