Annually over 170,000 new cases of lung cancer are diagnosed in the United States and 160,000 succumb to the disease. Although lung cancer accounts for 13.5% of all diagnosed cancers, 28% of cancer deaths are due to lung cancer. Overall survival is a dismal 14% although survival rates as high as 70% can be attained in early stage disease. The mean period from onset of symptoms to surgery is over four months. Delay in treatment is a prominent factor in the high death rate.
In an attempt to address the poor survival and delayed diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer patients, Eastern Maine Medical Center is instituting a multi-specialty Thoracic Oncology Clinic. Any patient with a suspected intrathoracic process may be referred by contacting our nurse coordinator, Carol Hawkes, RN; MS, at 1-877-EMMCTOC (366-2862). She will organize our basic work up and expedite consultation with one of our Pulmonary Physicians or Thoracic Surgeons. Once the patient has been evaluated, he or she will be presented at our weekly Thoracic Oncology Clinic where a multi-disciplinary team of specialists will outline a treatment plan. Once treatment has been accomplished, we will review the pathology for any unexpected findings and make further recommendations for treatment. Follow up guidelines will be forwarded to the referring provider, or we can follow the patient regularly if that is more desirable.
Recognizing that people in Maine are required to travel a distance for their medical care, we will do everything possible to minimize trips to Bangor by combining appointments, arranging for radiological work up at your local facilities if possible and utilizing telemedicine when practical. Most of the Clinic sessions will be made available through the Telemedicine services of EMMC, so referring providers may participate in the sessions if they wish.
Although smoking is on the decline in Maine, we still have a high rate of lung cancer in our population. We at Eastern Maine Medical Center are hopeful that this program will result in earlier, more coordinated treatment which will lead to better outcomes. We look forward to working with you and your patients to improve our results in this lethal disease.
Click here for our Thoracic Oncology brochure.