Lung Cancer

Key Staff

Consultants

Dr Yogini Raste, Clinical Lead
Dr Jacob Baby

Contact details (Admin POD): ch-tr.respiratorypod2@nhs.net

Surgeons

Mr Jeremy Smeilt

Contact details(Secretary): monika.wint@stgeorges.nhs.uk

Oncologists

Dr Imogen Locke, RMH RT Oncologist

Contact details(PA/Secretary): suzie.pepperell@nhs.net

Professor Mary O’Brien, RMH Oncologist

Contact details(PA/Secretaries): debbie.mallon@nhs.net , j.elvin@nhs.net , a.gurden@nhs.net

Nursing and support team

Mariquit Limson, CNS
Julia Bentley, Macmillan Support Officer

Monday -Friday 9.00 - 17.00

Tel : 020 8401 3000 Ext 3876 Email : ch-tr.lung-cancernursingteam@nhs.net

About Lung cancer

Cancer that begins in the lungs is called primary lung cancer. There are two main types of primary lung cancer. These are classified by the type of cells in which the cancer starts growing. They are:

Non-small-cell lung cancer – the most common form, accounting for around 80 to 85 out of 100 cases. It can be one of three types: squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma or large-cell carcinoma.
Small-cell lung cancer – a less common form that usually spreads faster than non-small-cell lung cancer.

There are usually no signs or symptoms in the early stages of lung cancer, but many people with the condition eventually develop symptoms including:

a persistent cough
coughing up blood
persistent breathlessness
unexplained tiredness and weight loss
an ache or pain when breathing or coughing

More information about Lung cancer - NHS

What are the tests to confirm the diagnosis?

The GP will ask about general health and symptoms. They may examine and ask to breathe into a device called a spirometer , which measures how much air you breathe in and out.

They may be asked to have a blood test to rule out some of the possible causes of your symptoms, such as a chest infection .

Next steps tests may include

If you've been told you have cancer, you may need more tests. The results of these tests can show the stage/extend of your cancer, and if the cancer has been caused by certain changes in your genes. This will also help your specialist team decide what treatment you need.

More about Lung cancer - Diagnosis - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

Macmillan information: A-Z Diagnostic tests

What treatment are available?

You may be offered a combination of treatments including surgery , chemotherapy , radiotherapy , immunotherapy and targeted medicines.

Treatments are offered in collaboration with St George’s Hospital University NHS Trust and the Royal Marsden Hospital.

The type of treatment you receive for lung cancer depends on several factors, including:

the type of lung cancer you have (non-small-cell or small-cell mutations on the cancer)
the size and position of the cancer
how advanced your cancer is (the stage)
your overall health

I f you have any questions or worries, you can talk to your specialist team.

More about Lung cancer - Treatment - NHS

Macmillan information: Making treatment decisions

Macmillan information: A-Z treatments- drugs

Lung cancer - Living with - NHS

Macmillan information: After Treatment

Personalised Cancer Care

Personalised cancer care allows you to take an active role in the way your care is planned and delivered by identifying your concerns and support needs. It puts you in control of your care, with our help.

There are lots of things you can do to look after your own health during and after cancer treatment. Some of this can be done with the involvement of your clinical team, such as physical activity and dietary modifications

Here are the key elements of personalised care for our cancer patients:

Personalised Assessment and Care Planning
Access to health and wellbeing information and support
End of treatment summaries to support you with understanding and managing impacts of cancer– also shared with your GP so they can support you.
Stratified Follow up when you have finished treatment or are living with cancer.

Read the Personalised Cancer Care Guide for newly diagnosed patients at Croydon Health Services.

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