Doctors Who Treat Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is a complex disease, so you may have several different types of doctors on your treatment team. Having a team of experts on your side will help you get the best treatment.

Many types of doctors may be on the team to treat your lung cancer. After graduating from medical school, doctors train for a number of years in a specific area, such as internal medicine or family practice. Some then go on to complete fellowships in subspecialty areas. (For example, to become a pulmonologist, a doctor does a three-year residency in internal medicine and then a two-year fellowship in pulmonology.) After their training is complete, they take an exam to become board-certified in their specialty area.

A lung cancer treatment team may include some or all of the following specialists.

Family practitioners and internists are doctors who have completed a residency in family medicine or internal medicine. They are often the first to find your cancer. They can work together with the specialists and subspecialists to help coordinate your care.

Pulmonologists are doctors who specialize in diagnosing and treating lung diseases. They can treat cancer and breathing problems caused by cancer. To diagnose lung cancer, this doctor may do x-rays and take a tissue sample (biopsy) from the affected lung.

Pathologists are doctors who specialize in diagnosing diseases. They use a microscope to examine the tissue sample taken during a biopsy. From this exam, the pathologist will diagnose the type of cancer and how advanced it is. You may never meet your pathologist, but he or she will consult with other doctors on your team.

Oncologists are doctors who specialize in treating cancer. There are three main types of oncologists.

• Medical oncologists treat cancer using medicines, such as chemotherapy. He or she may also refer you to other specialists for treatment.
• Radiation oncologists use x-rays and other types of radiation to treat cancer.
• Surgical oncologists use surgery to diagnose and treat cancer. They can do biopsies and remove tumors.

Diagnostic radiologists are doctors who specialize in diagnosing disease using imaging tests, such as x-ray, MRI, CT scan and ultrasound. Interventional radiologists may also use imaging tests to guide them as they perform biopsies.

Thoracic surgeons are doctors who specialize in surgery to the chest. A thoracic surgeon can treat cancers of the lung, esophagus and chest wall. Some thoracic surgeons also have special training in surgical oncology.

Related Articles Lung Cancer Overview How Is Lung Cancer Diagnosed?

External Sources American Board of Medical Specialties. Guide to physician specialties. Accessed October 16, 2007. National Cancer Institute. How to find a doctor or treatment facility if you have cancer. Accessed October 16, 2007. People Living with Cancer. The oncology team. Accessed October 16, 2007.

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