The Thoracic Oncology Program has become a flagship multidisciplinary program of Yale Cancer Center and Smilow Cancer Hospital. Its clinicians have made and continue to make landmark contributions in developmental therapeutics and molecular testing for mutations in the epidermal growth factor receptor gene, helping to usher in the era of personalized targeted thoracic therapy for patients with advanced lung cancer.
The thoracic oncology program involves a collaboration of specialty physicians, many of whom are listed among the country's best lung cancer physicians, and are nationally and internationally recognized for their expertise in these types of cancer. Specialties involved include medical oncology, radiation oncology, thoracic surgery, pulmonary medicine, digestive diseases, pathology, diagnostic imaging, and nursing.
Any patient cared for by one of the Thoracic Oncology Program physicians benefits from the collective expertise of the entire program's physicians because of the team approach that is integral to the program.
Patients also benefit from a comprehensive program to help with the physical, emotional, and psychological issues that are part of effectively confronting cancer. Finally, because cutting edge thoracic care is at times complex, patients also benefit greatly from the involvement of the team's care coordinators, who make management of even the most detailed multidisciplinary lung cancer treatment plan less complicated.
The Thoracic Oncology Program (TOP) is continually expanding its services and adding new technologies and treatment modalities to increase options for treating patients with thoracic malignancies.
Physicians meet regularly at the multidisciplinary TOP clinic and tumor board to discuss significant diagnostic or treatment issues of each patient. Surgical treatment options in the TOP program cover the entire spectrum, from a minimally invasive procedure to an extended resection. Additionally, the radiation oncology team has specific expertise in 4D conformal treatment planning and stereotactic body radiosurgery. Clinical trials are available and provide patients with access to novel chemotherapeutic agents.
Learn more about cutting-edge treatment and superior patient outcomes for thoracic oncology at Yale Cancer Center.
Through Yale Cancer Center, our thoracic surgeons and physicians are collaborating with scientists to develop an active, robust translational research effort. General research themes for lung cancer treatment include risk stratification and screening for lung cancer and molecular characterization of lung cancers. TOP clinicians are continually sharing insights from the clinic with researchers in laboratories to better focus their efforts. This collaboration creates the best possible innovations for our patients.
Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale New Haven offers cancer support groups.
