Dana-Farber's Lowe Center for Thoracic Oncology is committed to
delivering the most innovative treatment options available to patients
with all stages of lung and other thoracic cancers, with the goal of
increasing survival and quality of life.
You can expect exceptional care from world-class specialists in an
environment that supports the needs of patients and their families. Our
care is based on the latest advances in tumor genetic testing,
personalized lung cancer treatment, innovative surgical techniques, and
other forms of therapy.
Personalized lung tumor therapy is at the heart of our treatment
philosophy. Our medical oncologists are experts in identifying changes
in the genes of tumors that fuel their growth. They can then use this
knowledge to design and develop treatments that focus on the specific
weaknesses of each patient's tumor.
Patients with advanced adenocarcinoma of the lung are offered genetic
analysis of their cancer tumor. This genetic profile, which identifies
abnormal genes that drive an individual's tumor, can help identify
promising treatments, including oral "targeted" drugs or specific
clinical trials matched to the tumor's weak points. Our novel treatments
include new drug combinations aimed at overcoming drug resistance.
Your treatment team may include thoracic surgeons, medical and
radiation oncologists, and pulmonologists. A comprehensive, coordinated
team approach is important because the care of lung cancer patients can
be extremely complex and often includes more than one type of treatment.
At all times, the team will focus on total care for your specific cancer, emphasizing pain management, pulmonary rehabilitation, wound care, nutrition, and your emotional and educational needs.
Accurate diagnosis is critical to ensuring the best treatment.
Dana-Farber offers the latest diagnostic techniques available, such as
high-resolution CT scanning, positron emission tomography (PET),
advanced bronchoscopic imaging including navigational bronchoscopy, and
fine needle aspirations/biopsies as well as other minimally invasive
methods such as endobronchial ultrasound-directed biopsy.
Our thoracic surgical oncologists are members of Brigham and
Women's Division of Thoracic Surgery and are leaders in lung cancer
surgery techniques. They perform minimally invasive operations designed
to decrease pain, shorten the delay for patients to return to work and
activity, and limit scarring. They're also international experts in
surgery for mesothelioma, a lung cancer associated with exposure to asbestos.
Our thoracic radiation oncologists use advanced lung radiation
treatments and target tumors with image-guided, stereotactic techniques
that focus the treatment on the tumor, sparing healthy tissue. We also
offer several novel radiation therapy techniques, which include
four-dimensional treatment planning (4D), intensity modulated radiation
therapy (IMRT), stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT), and stereotactic
radiosurgery (SRS). These techniques may allow for safer, more effective
treatment of a patient's cancer.