Lung cancer

Our Chest Lung Evaluation and Resource Clinic (CLEAR) Clinics at Medical City Dallas and Medical City Lewisville are specially equipped to provide the latest diagnostic services and treatment options to patients in North Texas.

Each CLEAR Clinic is dedicated to the treatment of lung cancer. This is a one-stop, multidisciplinary, personalized care program for patients with lung cancer and complex lung diseases. Specialists at our CLEAR Clinics also manage abnormal computed tomography (CT) scans and minimize diagnosis time, offering early detection and treatment options that may not otherwise be available.

At the CLEAR Clinic locations mentioned above and through the oncology programs at Medical City Arlington, Medical City Fort Worth and Medical City Plano, patients can undergo various lung and endoscopy procedures, including imaging tests like low-dose CT scans.

Lung cancer screening

A CT scan is a type of X-ray that can take cross-sectional images of the inside of the body. The scan is painless and can produce clearer images of organs than standard X-rays. A low-dose CT scan also uses less radiation than a traditional CT scan.

Our Lung Nodule Management Clinic

A lung nodule is a small mass of tissue in the lung that can be visible on a routine screen. Most nodules are benign, but some are cancerous.

Our CLEAR Clinic in Dallas is one of the few lung nodule management clinics in North Texas. Experts at this location can determine whether the nodule should be treated or left alone. If a lung nodule is new or has changed in appearance, your doctor may recommend further scans or a biopsy. Most doctors can detect a nodule on an imaging test, but it takes the experience of the CLEAR Clinic to determine if the nodule needs treatment.

Our Lung Nodule Management Clinic offers:

• Customized patient and family education
• Ongoing collaboration and communication with referring physicians
• A dedicated nurse navigator to help with your ongoing care plan and to manage follow-up visits
• Evaluation, diagnosis and recommendations guided by the American College of Chest Physicians guidelines
• Coordination of care with multiple specialties, including thoracic surgery, radiology, pulmonology and radiation oncology

Smoking cessation

Our CLEAR Clinics include a comprehensive smoking cessation program. You'll receive smoking cessation materials and counseling to help you decrease your risk of lung cancer.

The Center for Lung Health at Medical City Plano offers advanced screening, diagnosis and treatment for all types of lung cancers. Lung cancer screening is covered by most insurance providers as a preventive service for individuals at high risk.

4001 W. 15th St.
STE. 180-A
Plano, TX 75093
(214) 473-7300

The primary goal of The Center for Lung Health at Medical City Plano is to improve lung cancer outcomes through early stage detection and curative treatment. This clinic offers advanced screening, diagnosis and treatment for all types of lung cancers. Tobacco cessation services are also offered at this clinic.

Lung cancer remains the most common cause of cancer death, resulting in more deaths than those due to stomach and colorectal cancers combined. But lung cancer is highly treatable when detected early.

Cancer specialists at our hospitals in North Texas diagnose and treat all types of lung cancer, including:

• Non-small cell lung cancers, which are the most common types of lung cancers (making up about 85 percent of all lung cancer cases) and include:
  • Squamous cell carcinomas, which develop from skin cells
  • Adenocarcinomas, which develop in the tissues of organs and blood vessels
  • Large cell carcinomas, which are a rare type of cancer that grow from large cells found in the lungs
• Small-cell lung cancers, also called oat cell cancers, which grow from small cells found in the lungs and tend to spread quickly
• Large carcinoid tumors, which are rare, slow-growing lung tumors that rarely spread
• Rarer types of lung cancers, such as:
  • Mesothelioma, which grows in the tissue that lines the lungs
  • Sarcomas, which are cancerous tumors that grow in bones or soft tissues

Learn More About Lung Cancer

Our expert pulmonologists, oncologists and cancer support teams offer a complete range of treatment options for lung cancer. Through our oncology programs and pulmonary care programs in North Texas, they will develop a treatment plan that may include:

• Lung cancer surgery, such as:
  • Lobectomy (the removal of a lobe of the lung)
  • Lymphadenectomy (the removal of lymph nodes)
  • Pneumonectomy (the removal of a lung)
  • Sleeve resection (the removal of a lobe and part of the airway, called the main bronchus)
  • Segmentectomy (the partial removal of an organ or gland)
  • Video-assisted thoracic surgery (surgery of the esophagus or organs in the chest using a small inserted camera to guide the surgeon)
• Nonsurgical lung cancer treatment options, such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy

Many people who are at risk don’t show symptoms of lung cancer until the disease reaches advanced stages, at which point lifesaving care may not be an option. High risk individuals include:

• Current or former smokers, between 50 and 80 years old, who smoked for at least 20 years or have quit within the past 15 years
• People with a personal history of cancer or lung disease
• People with a family history of lung cancer
• People with an occupational exposure to second-hand smoke

Lung evaluations can detect lung cancer before it advances or spreads to other parts of the body. If you think you may be at increased risk for developing lung cancer, talk to your doctor about a lung cancer screening.

We know a cancer diagnosis affects more than your physical health. That's why cancer support groups are a major part of cancer care at Medical City Healthcare. If you've just learned about a cancer diagnosis, are supporting a loved one through treatment or are transitioning into survivorship, we can connect you with a local community for ongoing care.