When seeking care, you will find that your treatment team is multi-disciplinary—you may see an oncologist, a radiologist, and a pulmonologist, among many others. While you may have a team treating you, you will have one doctor who will have primary responsibility for the management of your care.

The decisions that need to be made regarding your treatment are ultimately yours and your health care team’s to make. Most importantly, while many treatment options have similar statistics about the potential outcome, the side effects can vary widely from treatment to treatment. Therefore, not only should you talk to your doctor about the various treatment options available to you from an outcome perspective, but you should discuss which side effects may accompany each option and which are most acceptable for your lifestyle and goals of therapy.

One of the first steps you will take to find a doctor or cancer center is to get a recommendation from a reliable source. Start with your primary care physician. Your doctor can refer you to lung cancer specialists in your area. Also talk with other lung cancer patients.

Lung Cancer Alliance is a great source for linking you with someone else who has lung cancer. Call our hotline for more information. The National Cancer Institute is another source for referrals. Check out NCI’s website for information about NCI-designated cancer centers. Also, the American College of Surgeons’ Commission of Cancer identifies hospitals with cancer programs.

Once you’ve found a few names of doctors, there are several things to think about. It is important for you to talk to one or more oncology specialists: a thoracic surgeon, a medical oncologist, and a radiation oncologist. Seek advice for the most up-to-date and appropriate treatment available for your cancer. Ask your doctor about clinical trials before you make any decision about your treatment. The conversation you should expect to have with your doctor should include a discussion of the goals of therapy and what you desire in your treatment plan so that together, you can reach an agreement on what approach you would like to take.

The following is a list of hospitals and NCI Cancer Centers:

Hospitals

Association of Community Cancer Centers Sometimes the best care can be found close to home. This organization includes reputable cancer centers in some smaller metropolitan areas.

Hospital Web A growing voluntary list of hospital websites in the US and worldwide (scroll down to see lists).

National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) An alliance of leading medical facilities specializing in cancer.

The National Cancer Institute's Cancer Centers
The National Cancer Institute (NCI) Cancer Centers Program comprises more than 60 NCI-designated cancer centers engaged in multidisciplinary research to reduce cancer incidence, morbidity, and mortality.

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