Lung & Thoracic Cancer Care
Advanced Treatments for Cancers of the Lung, Esophagus, and Chest Wall
Thoracic cancers — including those of the lung, esophagus, and chest wall — require highly specialized care. At Exeter Hospital, our thoracic cancer team combines advanced diagnostic technology with the latest treatment approaches to achieve the best possible outcomes.
Screening & Diagnostic Services
Radiologists use advanced imaging tools to diagnose and stage cancers of the chest. At Exeter Hospital, our thoracic radiologists are leaders in their field, with deep expertise in performing imaging exams and interpreting results with precision. If you have certain risk factors, your primary care provider may recommend regular lung cancer screening.
Based on your symptoms and individual needs, your pulmonologist (lung specialist) may order one or more of the following imaging tests:
- CT scan
- MRI
- Nuclear medicine studies, including positron emission tomography (PET) and combined PET/CT
These imaging studies help your care team identify and classify tumors and abnormal cells, guide surgical approaches, and develop a personalized treatment plan.
Interventional Pulmonary Services
Pulmonary specialists can perform sophisticated procedures to biopsy lung tumors in hard-to-reach areas. They are also an essential part of your team for accurate assessment of the tumor extent (stage) that guides important treatment decisions. Our interventional team has accrued years of experience in the field of lung cancer and will guide you through your journey.
Treatments We Offer
Medical Oncology
Medical oncology uses chemotherapy and other systemic therapies, including immunotherapy and biologic (targeted) treatments, to treat cancer throughout the body.
Chemotherapy is delivered systemically, traveling through the bloodstream to reach cancer cells wherever they are. Immunotherapy boosts your immune system defenses against cancer cells, resulting in control or elimination of tumors.
Tumor Genotyping & Personalized Therapy
You may benefit from tumor genotyping, an advanced form of personalized cancer care that targets the unique genetic and immune features of your tumor.
Most cancers develop as a result of genetic changes that allow cells to grow uncontrollably. In non-small cell lung cancer, identifying specific genetic or immune alterations can help determine the most effective type and timing of treatment.
Radiation Therapy
Our Radiation Oncologists are among the most experienced in the New England area in using advanced technologies to treat lung and other thoracic cancers.
Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays or particles to destroy cancer cells to stop them from growing and dividing. Because cancer cells divide more rapidly than normal cells, radiation can be particularly effective while limiting damage to healthy tissue.
Our specialists also use a variety of technologies, techniques, and highly precise and accurate modalities to treat lung cancer including intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT), stereotactic body/ablative radiotherapy (SBRT), and in some cases of metastatic lung cancer—stereotactic radiosurgery can be offered. These treatments deliver varying radiation intensities precisely shaped to the tumor’s size, shape, and location, helping protect nearby healthy tissue while targeting sites of disease.
Thoracic Surgical Care & Interventional Pulmonology
Our thoracic surgeons are recognized leaders in their field and routinely treat complex tumors that may be considered inoperable elsewhere. Using the latest minimally invasive surgical techniques, we focus on achieving the best possible outcomes while supporting faster recovery and reduced downtime.
More About Lung & Thoracic Cancer Care
Explore how Exeter Hospital’s lung and thoracic cancer care team offers same-day consultations, advanced surgery, and collaborative treatment planning — all focused on achieving the best outcomes for our patients. We provide expert evaluation, surgical skill, and coordinated treatment for patients with lung and thoracic cancers.
Through our Multidisciplinary Thoracic Clinic, patients can meet with all the specialists they need in a single morning. Traditionally, consultations with surgeons, medical and radiation oncologists, and other experts could take weeks to arrange. Exeter Hospital is the only treatment center in the region offering this same-day, coordinated approach.
Our thoracic surgeons specialize in procedures to diagnose and treat cancers of the lung, esophagus, and chest wall. Using small scopes and advanced imaging, they can visualize and treat affected areas through minimally invasive techniques.
Common diagnostic procedures include bronchoscopy (examining the airways), esophagoscopy (examining the esophagus), mediastinoscopy (examining the area behind the sternum), and thoracoscopy (examing the chest cavity).
Our Radiology Department also offers CT-guided biopsies in order to confirm diagnoses and support accurate treatment planning.
During your appointment, you and your family can meet directly with multiple oncology specialists, ask questions, and discuss your goals. Second opinions are built into the process, so your treatment plan reflects a full range of expert perspectives. Once a plan is created, our team moves quickly to begin treatment — addressing both medical and emotional needs.
Your multidisciplinary team may include:
- Surgeon
- Medical Oncologist
- Radiation Oncologist
- Pathologist
- Radiologist
- Physical Therapist
- Nurses
- Social Worker
- Patient Navigator
- Dietitian
When appropriate, we also discuss available clinical trials at Exeter Hospital, offering access to promising new therapies.
