Friday, May 18, 2012

ECCC's Multidisciplinary Lung Cancer Program coordinates and expedites treatment

Lung cancer patients at the Edwards Comprehensive Cancer Center have unique access to a team of physician specialists brought together to form the Multidisciplinary Lung Cancer Program and expedite care for lung cancer patients. This specialized team combines pulmonologists (physicians who specialize in lung care); medical oncologists (cancer specialists); thoracic surgeons (lung surgery specialists) and radiation oncologists to provide a single stop for lung cancer patients to receive their care and treatment.

The program is unique because it brings all of the physicians associated with a patient's care to one place. Instead of multiple appointments on different days, each of the physician specialists will be available to visit and examine patients in the same place on the same day.

"What we are offering is a one-stop, one-visit approach to lung cancer where a patient will be seen by all of their physicians during one visit," said Dr. Imran Khawaja. "This approach will expedite further testing and expedite the care for patient so that there is no delay in providing them care."

When patients are referred to the Multidisciplinary Lung Cancer Program at the Edwards Comprehensive Cancer Center, they are guided through their lung cancer diagnosis, treatment and follow-up with the help of a nurse navigator. The nurse navigator is available to help with details that include appointment scheduling, education and handling the emotional toll lung cancer may have on a patient.

For more information about the Multidisciplinary Lung Cancer Program, please call (304) 399-6749.