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Lung cancer

A diagnosis that has changed more in ten years than in the fifty before.

No cancer has been transformed by modern medicine more than lung cancer. Targeted therapies and immunotherapy — often guided by biomarker testing of your tumor — have rewritten what's possible for many patients. Our oncologists make sure every patient gets the testing that determines whether these newer options apply to them.

How we approach it

Biomarker testing first

Molecular testing of your tumor can reveal mutations with specific targeted treatments — pills, in many cases, not infusions

Immunotherapy expertise

For many lung cancers, helping your own immune system recognize the cancer is now a standard of care

Full-team staging

Accurate staging with our on-site imaging, coordinated with pulmonologists and surgeons

What the workup looks like

Tissue and testing

Beyond confirming the diagnosis, we test the tumor's molecular profile — results that can completely change the treatment plan.

Staging

Imaging establishes the extent of disease and whether surgery, radiation, systemic therapy, or a combination fits best.

Your plan, your goals

We lay out the options and build the plan around what matters to you.

Radiation therapy for lung cancer

Radiation therapy is one of the tools we may use in treating lung cancer — including focused, high-precision approaches for early-stage tumors and combined treatment for more advanced disease. When it’s part of your plan, it’s delivered with the advanced TrueBeam® system and planned by our board-certified radiation oncologist, Dr. Dan Ishihara, working hand-in-hand with your medical oncologist so radiation, drug therapy, and surgery come together as one plan rather than three.

Common questions

I never smoked — can I still have lung cancer?

Yes. A meaningful share of lung cancers occur in people who never smoked, and these are often exactly the cancers with targetable mutations — making biomarker testing especially important.

What is biomarker testing and do I need it?

It's molecular analysis of your tumor looking for specific mutations. For most lung cancers it's now standard, because the results can open the door to targeted pills or immunotherapy.

Is lung cancer treatable?

Far more than most people believe, especially in recent years. Outcomes depend heavily on stage and tumor biology — which is why prompt, complete workup matters.

Should I be screened?

If you have a significant smoking history, annual low-dose CT screening may be recommended — ask your primary doctor whether you qualify.

This page is general information, not medical advice for your specific situation. Every cancer — and every patient — is different. Bring your questions to your care team.