| The Lung Cancer Evaluation Center (LCEC) is home to Stony Brook's expert Lung Cancer Team and comprehensive diagnosis and treatment programs. In the case of known or suspected lung cancer, there are several ways to approach diagnosis and treatment, which may involve chemotherapy, surgery, and/or radiation therapy. Based on the team's combined expertise, a comprehensive treatment plan is designed for the patient's individual needs, providing optimal care. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the United States, but Stony Brook is working to change that. We have invested substantial resources in early detection, risk assessment by blood markers, noninvasive staging, and combined modality therapeutic approaches. This provides more accurate staging before surgery and allows promising new advances, such as neoadjuvant chemotherapy to shrink tumors prior to surgical removal. The Lung Cancer Evaluation Center is located on the second floor of the Cancer Center. Surgery- Thomas Bilfinger, MD, Team Leader and Co-Director, Lung Cancer Evaluation Center
PulmonologistMedical Hematology/OncologyPathologyRadiologyRadiation OncologyNurse Practitioners:Nurse Navigator: Stony Brook offers a comprehensive range of diagnostic, treatment, and follow-up services for patients with lung cancer, including expedited diagnosis and technologically advanced radiation, surgical, and systemic therapies. See Diagnostics, Treatments & Technologies for more information. - State-of-the-Art Technology. This includes radiofrequency ablation and cryoablation; image-guided radiotherapy; PET/CT fusion imaging scanning; interventional bronchoscopy, including endobronchial ultrasound biopsy, stenting, transbronchial needle aspiration for nonsurgical diagnosis and staging with onsite pathology, cautery, laser, and brachytherapy. Five-year results for these less invasive modalities have just become available and they are very favorable.
- Surgery. Thoracic surgery remains the preferred treatment for curative intent, and procedures performed include pneumonectomy, lobectomy, VATS lobectomy, wedge resection, thoracoscopy, and mediastinoscopy. The program has very favorable five-year results compared to national data.
Our exceptional clinical support services contribute to coordinated care. These include Nutrition Services, Pain Management, Palliative Care/Survivorship & Support, Pharmacy Services, Physical and Occupational Rehabilitation, Therapeutic Yoga, and our Tumor Board. For more information, see Clinical Support Services. Patients can participate in ongoing protocols in every phase of diagnosis and treatment, including national studies through the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group and the American College of Surgeons Oncology Group. For information, see Innovations & Research in Cancer. For specific clinical trial listings, see our Current Clinical Trials. |
