This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Community Corner

Latest in Lung Cancer Program June 24

Every three minutes, someone is diagnosed with lung cancer. But today, the outlook for a person with lung cancer is better than ever, thanks to new medicines and technology, less invasive surgery, and better insights into the disease.

On Tuesday, June 24, individuals will have an opportunity to learn about the latest in lung cancer diagnosis and treatments at a special program led by Dr. Daniel Golden, radiation oncologist with The University or Chicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center at Silver Cross Hospital.  The free event will be held from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Silver Cross Hospital Conference Center, 1890 Silver Cross Blvd., Pavilion A, New Lenox.  Register to attend at www.silvercross.org or call 1-888-660-HEAL (4325).

Dr. Golden will discuss current controversies in screening for lung cancer, how new drugs are targeting specific mutations in lung cancer, and how innovations in planning and delivering radiation therapy have made treatment safer and more effective for lung cancer patients. “For example, special, four-dimensional treatment planning scans allow us to create a very detailed "map" of the tumor to deliver precise radiation treatment,” said Dr. Golden.   “In addition, technology called image-guided radiotherapy actually gives us a "real time" picture of a tumor’s location during treatment, so that they we can adapt treatment day-to-day.”

Find out what's happening in Channahon-Minookawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Typically, radiation for lung cancer is given daily for two to seven weeks. Yet one of the newest radiation treatments, called stereotactic body radiotherapy, shortens treatment time substantially. This type of radiation delivers high, targeted doses of radiation--five to 10 times the dose delivered in traditional radiation therapy--so that patients require fewer treatments. Unlike daily doses of traditional radiation that are spread out over several weeks, stereotactic body radiotherapy requires only three to five treatment sessions.

“This technique may be especially helpful for treating patients with lung cancer that are not candidates for surgery. Research suggests it is just as effective at controlling lung tumors as surgery,” says Dr. Golden.

Find out what's happening in Channahon-Minookawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

In addition to treating lung cancer with radiation therapy, on June 24 Dr. Golden will also address the latest surgical techniques, chemotherapy, clinical trials, and targeted treatments for lung cancer.

A Team Approach to Lung Cancer

Most patients with lung cancer need more than one type of therapy as part of their treatment plan. That’s why Silver Cross now offers a multidisciplinary lung cancer conference every Tuesday in the University of Chicago Comprehensive Medicine Cancer Center on the New Lenox campus.  Typically, patients who suspect they have or are already diagnosed with lung cancer meet with several different specialists before starting treatment.  This can sometimes take several weeks or even months.  Instead, patients can come to one location and have a team of experts review their medical information and develop a plan of care all on the same day.

 

Here’s how it works.  On the day of the Conference, patients meet briefly with one of the specialists who gathers the medical information to share with the other experts.  That afternoon, the multidisciplinary group of community and University of Chicago Medicine specialists representing medical oncology, pulmonology, radiation oncology, interventional radiology, and thoracic surgery convene to review the patient’s case including any related pathology and imaging reports available to them.  The physicians then develop a consensus recommendation, discuss next steps, and present the suggested individualized treatment plan to the patient for their consideration. 

 

In addition, patients are partnered with a nurse navigator who guides them through the entire process.  If any additional tests are recommended, the patient will have the opportunity to return the following week to discuss results and finalize the treatment plan.  The group’s recommendations will also be shared with the patient’s primary physician in order to enhance coordination of care. To learn more about this free Lung Cancer Conference, call (815) 300-LUNG.

 

About the University of Chicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center
The University of Chicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center has been at the forefront of cancer care and discovery for more than 50 years. Many of the roots of chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, gene therapy, and bone marrow transplantation can be traced back to the Cancer Center. More than 210 physician scientists are conducting basic, clinical and translational research to study cancer from all angles, enabling the incorporation of personalized medicine into routine care. The Cancer Center is one of only 41 National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers, a distinction that denotes scientific excellence, as well as discovery and development of effective approaches to cancer risk assessment, prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship. The Cancer Center has been listed in U.S. News & World Report as one of “America’s Best Hospitals” for cancer since 1999. For more information, visit cancer.uchicago.edu, Facebook, Twitter and our blog at cancerconversations.uchospitals.edu.

 

About Silver Cross Hospital

Silver Cross Hospital is a not-for-profit health care provider serving Will County and southwest suburban communities since 1895. Silver Cross has been recognized as a Thomson Reuters 100 Top Hospitals National Award winner for seven consecutive years and as a Hospital of Choice by the American Alliance of Healthcare Providers. With over 3,000 employees, physicians and volunteers, Silver Cross operates a 289-bed acute care hospital and 5 satellite facilities providing outpatient services and physician offices. Silver Cross opened a state-of-the-art replacement hospital on February 26, 2012 at I-355 and Route 6 in New Lenox. In 2013, Silver Cross provided over $48 million in charity care and other community benefits. To learn more about Silver Cross Hospital or a referral to a physician on staff, visit www.silvercross.org  or call 1-888-660-HEAL (4325). Physicians on Silver Cross Hospital’s Medical Staff have expertise in their areas of practice to meet the needs of patients seeking their care.  These physicians are independent practitioners on the Medical Staff and are not the agents or employees of Silver Cross Hospital. They treat patients based upon their independent medical judgment and they bill patients separately for their services.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?

More from Channahon-Minooka