Lung Cancer

Our Approach to Lung Cancer Care

Lung cancer is the leading cause of all cancer deaths. The two primary types of lung cancer are called non-small cell lung cancer and small cell lung cancer. The MaineHealth Cancer Care Network brings together teams of specialists to accurately detect and stage lung and other thoracic (within the chest) cancers.

Finding a Lung Cancer Specialist

The list below shows which doctors may be involved in your cancer care. Select the type of specialist you're looking for to find a provider in your area.  

• Medical oncologists treating lung cancer use medicine (chemotherapy, targeted therapy, biotherapy and/or immunotherapy) rather than radiation.
• Surgeons treating lung cancer focus on the surgical management of the disease.
• Radiation oncologists use high energy X-rays to destroy cancer cells while sparing surrounding tissue.
• Cancer Patient Navigators make sure you have everything you need to make informed decisions about your care.

Why Do I Need to See So Many Doctors?

It is important that cancer specialists highly trained in their area of care participate in evaluating your diagnosis and planning your treatment.