Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsThe Best HospitalsWhy Your Choice MattersFactors to ConsiderQuestions to AskGetting a Second Opinion
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
The Best Hospitals
Why Your Choice Matters
Factors to Consider
Questions to Ask
Getting a Second Opinion
Choosing the best hospital for lung cancer is one of the biggest decisions you’ll face during what is an overwhelming and difficult time. Luckily the best lung cancer hospitals in the United States are some of the top in the world.
You might be lucky enough to have a top-ranked cancer hospital within minutes of your home. But more than likely, you will need to investigate the best lung cancer treatment centers in your area and determine whether they suit your needs or if you should travel to a far-off facility for more specialized care.
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Visit the websites of cancer treatment centers and get information about the services offered. You can always call and ask any questions you have as well. Here are some of the top recognized hospitals for lung cancer in the country.
Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center
TheDana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Centerin Boston, Massachusettes, has more than 60 members in its lung cancer program, with various areas of expertise, including smoking and genetics, mRNA expression patterns, and new therapeutic treatments.
The Cancer Center is home to Profile, one of the world’s most comprehensive cancer precision medicine initiatives, which allows researchers to analyze tumors genetically. The database consists of more than 30,000 tumor samples.
University of Colorado Denver
With a specialty in lung and chest cavity cancer treatment, theUniversity of Colorado Health(UC Health) is a top choice for many with lung cancer. Lung cancer patients who are treated at UC Health have a five-year survival of nearly 39%, compared to the national average of 23%.
The hospital’s Comprehensive Cancer Center is one of 51 elite cancer centers, according to the National Cancer Institute. It has more than 80 National Cancer Institute grants, totaling over $17 million for cancer research studying everything from developmental anticancer therapies to the environment of tissues' and cancers' impact on the development of the disease.
Mayo Clinic Cancer Center
TheMayo Clinic’sheadquarters are located in Rochester, Minnesota, but the hospital also has locations in Arizona and Florida. Throughout its three locations, the Mayo has 65 cancer specialists and treats more than 6,000 lung cancer patients per year.
The hospital boasts minimally invasive surgery options, including video-assisted thoracoscopic and robotic surgeries. The Mayo Clinic participates in many clinical trials, and was part of the landmark study for lung cancer screening. Currently, it’s studying the effects of radiation therapy versus immune therapy treatment for those with small-cell lung cancer.
Stanford Cancer Institute
TheStanford Cancer Institutein Palo Alto, California, is known for its multidisciplinary research and patient care in lung and pancreatic cancer.
Cleveland Clinic’s Ohio Premier Cancer Center
Cleveland Clinicfeatures more than 300 locations across the U. S., but its lung cancer center, the Taussig Cancer Institute, is located in Weston, Florida, with an additional location in northern Ohio. Cleveland’s lung cancer department includes more than 30 specialists, ranging from pulmonologists to radiologists.
The clinic is devoted to lung cancer research and is currently leading one around Alrizomadlin, a protein inhibitor, and its impact on tumors.
Other Great Hospitals to Explore
The list of word-renowned hospitals for lung cancer doesn’t stop there. Here are some other top-ranking options to explore:
The treatment of lung cancer is changing rapidly, and it’s important to find medical experts who can offer you the most up-to-date options for your disease.
Researchers have compared how different types of cancer centers affect outcomes for people withstage 4 lung cancer. Those who sought out care at academic centers had significantly greatersurvival ratesthan those who were treated at community-based cancer centers.The difference in outcomes was greatest for those with lungadenocarcinoma.
There are several factors to consider as you narrow down your options for the best hospital for lung cancer. It may be tempting to want to jump in and begin treatment as quickly as you can. But slowing down and considering important factors related to treatment will ensure that you make the best decision for your goals and needs.
When you sit down to evaluate where to seek help, things to consider include:
Quality of Care
Choosing a lung cancer hospital that has a record for providing high-quality care should be your number one priority. Thankfully, a few databases are available to help you research this.
Two of the most helpful resources include:
Comprehensiveness of Care
Lung cancer treatment is complex. You will need to see several specialists who attend to different aspects of the disease or conditions related to your lung cancer.
This team may include:
In addition, your team may includephysical therapists, respiratory therapists, and other physicians, depending on what other issues you’re experiencing.
These doctors need to be able to communicate and work together. One advantage of seeking care at one of the larger cancer treatment hospitals is that they can offer access to all of these specialists in one place.
A comprehensive cancer center may make the paperwork and communication aspect of care more efficient. It can also reduce your travel times and, in general, remove some of the burden of organizing care.
Patient Volume
While there is much to say about small facilities that offer a very personalized approach to care, big cancer centers that specialize in treating large numbers of cancer patients have their own benefits.
One advantage is that they often have access to the latest and greatest in technology. For instance, technology such as cutting-edge imaging and radiation therapy resources is expensive; only a center that would be using these machines often would invest in the newest equipment.
When you have a large number of patients, you gain a lot of experience. So doctors in these larger cancer centers are more likely to be familiar with your specific type of cancer, even if it’s not the most common manifestation of the disease.
Also, studies suggest that people who have lung cancer surgery at high-volume hospitals suffer fewer complications and fare better overall compared to patients at facilities where doctors see fewer lung cancer patients.
A less recognized advantage of high-volume lung cancer hospitals is the strong likelihood thatsupport groupsfor lung cancer patients might be active in the facility. Being treated in a center like this helps you connect with others who can support your needs and answer your questions.
Treatment Options Offered
The particular lung cancer treatments you’re interested in trying may not be available at every type of cancer center. For example:
Even among larger cancer centers that now offer a wider range of therapies, some centers are more focused on integrative treatments than others.
Location
For some people, receiving care at a lung cancer hospital near their home or family is very important; others may be more willing or able to travel for treatment.
Insurance Constraints
It’s important to check with your insurance company to see if it covers treatment at the cancer centers you are considering. It’s also important to ask if the center is in-network orout-of-network.
Out-of-network providers and centers are often covered but with higher co-pays or deductibles. Choosing a cancer center under your insurance plan will help considerably with the costs.
If a treatment is not covered under your insurance plan, you can still have it—you’ll just be required to pay for itout-of-pocket. This is true for many of the integrative treatments for cancer such as massage therapy and acupuncture.
That’s a lot to keep in mind, and it’s easy to get off-track when meeting with cancer center staff members who are sure to provide you with a lot of information in one sitting.
It may help to keep these and any other questions you have handy during your discussion.
For a meeting to discuss a diagnosis or treatment recommendations:
For a meeting to discuss receiving treatment at the new doctor’s facility:
After the meeting, evaluate how things went:
Some people are hesitant to ask for asecond opinion. They may be afraid they’ll offend their physician or to take the time needed to investigate another opinion.
It’s important to keep in mind that getting a second opinion when you have cancer is not uncommon; in fact, it’s almost expected. Just as you would check out more than one dealership when purchasing a new car, checking out more than one doctor or treatment center is very important to feel secure in your decision-making.
It’s helpful to ask the same questions of any care team you meet with, so you have clear points of comparison. On the one hand, you may find an approach that better meets your needs. On the other, if the opinions are similar, you’ll feel more comfortable that you’re on the right track.
It does take some time to arrange a second opinion. Sometimes urgent treatment is needed and you may have to make decisions quickly, which may not allow for such consultation. But more often than not, there’s a window of time to seek out other opinions before starting treatment.
When You Can’t Visit in PersonIf you want a second opinion from one of the top lung cancer treatment centers in the U.S. or a highly recommended hospital, you may be able to arrange a remote consultation. Inquire with the staff about this option before crossing a facility off your list due to its location.
When You Can’t Visit in Person
If you want a second opinion from one of the top lung cancer treatment centers in the U.S. or a highly recommended hospital, you may be able to arrange a remote consultation. Inquire with the staff about this option before crossing a facility off your list due to its location.
Summary
Many of the top cancer centers in the U.S. offer world-class care, but you may need to look beyond your local options for the best treatment. Hospitals like the Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center, the Mayo Clinic, and the Stanford Cancer Institute provide advanced treatments, including precision medicine and minimally invasive surgery, along with access to clinical trials.
When choosing a hospital, think about factors like the quality of care, the experience of the specialists, and the treatments available. Larger centers often have the newest technology and more experience with rare cases. It’s also important to consider things like location, insurance coverage, and whether you want a second opinion. Asking the right questions during your consultations will help ensure the hospital’s approach fits your needs and treatment goals.
12 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Lung Cancer Center.5 Best Lung Cancer Hospitals in the U.S.National Cancer Institute.Cancer Research Infrastructure.National Cancer Institute.Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center.UC Health.Lung Cancer.National Cancer Institute.University of Colorado Cancer Center.The Mayo Clinic.Lung Cancer Care at Mayo Clinic.Stanford Medicine.Thoracic and Lung Cancer Program.Cleveland Clinic.Cancer Clinical Trials.Ramalingam S, Dinan MA, Crawford J.Survival Comparison in Patients with Stage IV Lung Cancer in Academic versus Community Centers in the United States.J Thorac Oncol. 2018;13(12):1842-1850. doi:10.1016/j.jtho.2018.09.007American Collge of Surgeons.About the National Cancer Database.Wang EH, Rutter CE, Corso CD, et al.Patients Selected for Definitive Concurrent Chemoradiation at High-volume Facilities Achieve Improved Survival in Stage III Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer.J Thorac Oncol. 2015;10(6):937-43. doi:10.1097/jto.0000000000000519American Cancer Society.Lung Cancer Questions.Additional ReadingPark HS, Detterbeck FC, Boffa DJ, Kim AW.Impact of hospital volume of thoracoscopic lobectomy on primary lung cancer outcomes.Ann Thorac Surg. 2012;93(2):372-9. doi:10.1016/j.athoracsur.2011.06.054
12 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Lung Cancer Center.5 Best Lung Cancer Hospitals in the U.S.National Cancer Institute.Cancer Research Infrastructure.National Cancer Institute.Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center.UC Health.Lung Cancer.National Cancer Institute.University of Colorado Cancer Center.The Mayo Clinic.Lung Cancer Care at Mayo Clinic.Stanford Medicine.Thoracic and Lung Cancer Program.Cleveland Clinic.Cancer Clinical Trials.Ramalingam S, Dinan MA, Crawford J.Survival Comparison in Patients with Stage IV Lung Cancer in Academic versus Community Centers in the United States.J Thorac Oncol. 2018;13(12):1842-1850. doi:10.1016/j.jtho.2018.09.007American Collge of Surgeons.About the National Cancer Database.Wang EH, Rutter CE, Corso CD, et al.Patients Selected for Definitive Concurrent Chemoradiation at High-volume Facilities Achieve Improved Survival in Stage III Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer.J Thorac Oncol. 2015;10(6):937-43. doi:10.1097/jto.0000000000000519American Cancer Society.Lung Cancer Questions.Additional ReadingPark HS, Detterbeck FC, Boffa DJ, Kim AW.Impact of hospital volume of thoracoscopic lobectomy on primary lung cancer outcomes.Ann Thorac Surg. 2012;93(2):372-9. doi:10.1016/j.athoracsur.2011.06.054
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Lung Cancer Center.5 Best Lung Cancer Hospitals in the U.S.National Cancer Institute.Cancer Research Infrastructure.National Cancer Institute.Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center.UC Health.Lung Cancer.National Cancer Institute.University of Colorado Cancer Center.The Mayo Clinic.Lung Cancer Care at Mayo Clinic.Stanford Medicine.Thoracic and Lung Cancer Program.Cleveland Clinic.Cancer Clinical Trials.Ramalingam S, Dinan MA, Crawford J.Survival Comparison in Patients with Stage IV Lung Cancer in Academic versus Community Centers in the United States.J Thorac Oncol. 2018;13(12):1842-1850. doi:10.1016/j.jtho.2018.09.007American Collge of Surgeons.About the National Cancer Database.Wang EH, Rutter CE, Corso CD, et al.Patients Selected for Definitive Concurrent Chemoradiation at High-volume Facilities Achieve Improved Survival in Stage III Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer.J Thorac Oncol. 2015;10(6):937-43. doi:10.1097/jto.0000000000000519American Cancer Society.Lung Cancer Questions.
Lung Cancer Center.5 Best Lung Cancer Hospitals in the U.S.
National Cancer Institute.Cancer Research Infrastructure.
National Cancer Institute.Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center.
UC Health.Lung Cancer.
National Cancer Institute.University of Colorado Cancer Center.
The Mayo Clinic.Lung Cancer Care at Mayo Clinic.
Stanford Medicine.Thoracic and Lung Cancer Program.
Cleveland Clinic.Cancer Clinical Trials.
Ramalingam S, Dinan MA, Crawford J.Survival Comparison in Patients with Stage IV Lung Cancer in Academic versus Community Centers in the United States.J Thorac Oncol. 2018;13(12):1842-1850. doi:10.1016/j.jtho.2018.09.007
American Collge of Surgeons.About the National Cancer Database.
Wang EH, Rutter CE, Corso CD, et al.Patients Selected for Definitive Concurrent Chemoradiation at High-volume Facilities Achieve Improved Survival in Stage III Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer.J Thorac Oncol. 2015;10(6):937-43. doi:10.1097/jto.0000000000000519
American Cancer Society.Lung Cancer Questions.
Park HS, Detterbeck FC, Boffa DJ, Kim AW.Impact of hospital volume of thoracoscopic lobectomy on primary lung cancer outcomes.Ann Thorac Surg. 2012;93(2):372-9. doi:10.1016/j.athoracsur.2011.06.054
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