Lung Cancer

Overview

Mayo Clinic provides comprehensive lung cancer diagnosis and treatment options. With Mayo Clinic's team approach to care, patients with lung cancer benefit from the combined expertise and experience of multiple specialists. Each year, Mayo pulmonary medicine and medical oncology specialists treat more than 1,500 new patients with lung cancer, and Mayo surgeons perform more than 1,000 lung cancer surgeries.

Mayo Clinic Cancer Center is designated as a comprehensive cancer center by the National Cancer Institute in recognition of its patient care and research capabilities. Mayo also leads the North Central Cancer Treatment Group, a major collaborative clinical research group. Through these and other affiliations, Mayo Clinic helps develop and test new lung cancer therapies through clinical trials.

Patients may have the opportunity to participate in Mayo's clinical trials when an investigational lung cancer therapy is appropriate for their medical situation. Clinical trials may not provide a cure, but may extend life or improve quality of life.

Treatment options

Mayo offers the latest lung cancer treatment options, as well as access to clinical trials of experimental therapies. Lung cancer treatment is based on the type and stage of tumor present and the patient's overall health. Options include surgery, radiation, chemotherapy or a combination of treatments. Read more about lung cancer treatment.

• Treatment in Arizona
• Treatment in Florida
• Treatment in Minnesota

About lung cancer

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States, among both men and women. It claims more lives than colon, prostate and breast cancer combined, yet is among the most preventable cancers. Early detection and treatment make a significant difference in life expectancy following lung cancer diagnosis. Smoking accounts for about 85 percent to 90 percent of lung cancer cases.

Read more about lung cancer at MayoClinic.com.

Medically Speaking

• Why Mayo? – Mark Allen, M.D. 0:51
• Causes – Eric Edell, M.D. 1:03
• Cessation After Diagnosis – Richard Hurt, M.D. 0:35
• Stages & Treatment – James Jett, M.D. 3:42
• Surgical Options – Mark Allen, M.D. 1:24
• Minimally Invasive Surgery – Dawn Jaroszewski, M.D. 0:54
• Radiation Curative Therapy – Steven Schild, M.D. 0:47
• Chemotherapy & Comfort – Donald Northfelt, M.D. 1:31
• Long-term Outlook – David Midthun, M.D. 1:38