Lung cancer

Cancers of the lung and thoracic (chest) cavity include non-small cell lung cancer, including squamous cell carcinoma, large cell carcinoma, and adenocarcinoma, small cell lung cancer.

We also treat cancers of the respiratory system and organs in the thoracic cavity, including malignant mesothelioma, thymoma and thymic carcinoma, small cell cancer in other body sites, chest sarcomas, pulmonary carcinoid tumors, other rare thoracic cancers, and metastatic cancers that begin in other organs and spread to the lungs.

At UCHealth facilities, a multidisciplinary team of doctors and support professionals work together to develop the best plan of care for you. They stay with you from your initial appointment through treatment and aftercare.

Five-year lung cancer survival rates

Chart comparing all stages Lung Cancer UCHealth 24.2% survival rate to Colorado state average of 18.7%
Chart comparing stage 1 Lung Cancer UCHealth 62.7% survival rate to Colorado state average of 55.8%
Chart comparing stage 2 Lung Cancer UCHealth 39.3% survival rate to Colorado state average of 38.5%
Chart comparing stage 3 Lung Cancer UCHealth 22.9% survival rate to Colorado state average of 18.0%
Chart comparing stage 4 Lung Cancer UCHealth 5.8% survival rate to Colorado state average of 4.2%

Number of Patients Diagnosed – UCHealth 1,800 – State of Colorado – 8,046
Number of Patients Surviving – UCHealth 436 – State of Colorado – 1,505
*n<30, 5 Year Survival – (Date of diagnosis 1/1/2010–12/31/2014)

Your dedicated cancer team

You receive doctor-managed care that emphasizes wellness and healing for you as a whole person. Integrative medicine specialists can incorporate options such as massage therapy, acupuncture and exercise consultation into your treatment.

Your expert medical team is composed from a range of specialists, including medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, thoracic surgeons and interventional pulmonologists. Other care team staff might include pathologists, geneticists, nurses and nutritionists. All work together seamlessly to deliver your care.

Man talking to provider

Advanced research and treatment

Significant breakthroughs in treating advanced lung cancer have resulted from creating a molecular profile of an individual’s cancer. With the profile, the most promising treatments—often within clinical trials—can be started as soon as possible. Our UCHealth lung cancer team creates a molecular profile of every person’s lung cancer, which means your treatment plan is tailored to meet your specific needs.

Expert second opinions

Rely on the nationally recognized lung cancer program at UCHealth for expert second opinions on all aspects of lung cancer and thoracic cancer care.

Our Comprehensive Cancer Center on the Anschutz Medical Campus—one of only 51 elite cancer centers in the United States designated by the National Cancer Institute—is known worldwide for developing and setting new standards in the treatment of lung and related cancers.

Remote Second Opinions. If traveling to Denver to see us is impractical, consider our Remote Second Opinions program.

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