Lung Cancer, Non-Small Cell : Diagnosis & Treatment at Memorial Sloan-Kettering

Our Approach and Expertise

We are among the first institutions to perform molecular testing of tumors in all patients with non-small cell lung cancer.
With genetic information about your tumor, our experts can personalize your treatment.
Our surgeons perform more than 1,200 operations for lung cancer each year, including robotic and video-assisted procedures, with one of the country's lowest complication rates.
Using the most precise technologies, we deliver powerful doses of radiation therapy directly to tumors.

Every person who comes to Memorial Sloan-Kettering for lung cancer treatment receives personalized care from an expert lung cancer treatment team. The team is made up of physicians, nurses, and therapists who focus exclusively on cancers arising in the chest.

Specialists representing the full range of approaches for treating lung cancer work together to design and implement a treatment plan that is tailored to your individual needs. Receiving care from a team of experts in surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, personalized medicine, and quality of life issues ensures that you will receive the combination of therapies that will best address your condition and provide you the best chance of success.

Because our doctors, nurses, and therapists are engaged in research related to all aspects of care, we are aware of the latest scientific discoveries and medical advances. We are also constantly testing new ways to fight lung cancer. This means that patients at Memorial Sloan-Kettering have access to clinical trials of new treatment options that are not available anywhere else.

If participating in a clinical trial could be right for you, your doctor may offer you the opportunity to participate in one as part of your plan of care.

Learn more about our approach to diagnosing and treating non-small cell lung cancer.

Diagnosis & Staging
Getting an accurate diagnosis is the first step toward getting the right treatment. Our physicians are experts in analyzing biopsies, imaging data, and other information to assess your disease and develop a personalized treatment plan.
Personalized Medicine
Memorial Sloan-Kettering was among the first to perform genetic testing of tumors for all patients with non-small cell lung cancer. Knowing about specific genetic mutations can help doctors select the best treatments for you.
Surgery
Memorial Sloan-Kettering’s thoracic surgery team is among the most experienced in the United States, and has expertise in both minimally invasive and traditional “open” surgical approaches.
Chemotherapy
Medical oncologists at Memorial Sloan-Kettering offer the most advanced medical approaches for the treatment of non-small lung cancer, including clinical trials of new therapies and drug combinations.
Radiation Therapy
Memorial Sloan-Kettering uses the most advanced technologies to deliver powerful doses of radiation directly to the tumor with exquisite precision.
Interventional Radiology
For some patients with non-small cell lung cancer, surgery is not possible at the time of diagnosis. Memorial Sloan-Kettering uses minimally invasive techniques that offer additional options for reducing pain and improving quality of life.
Rehabilitation
Memorial Sloan-Kettering’s team of physical and occupational therapists will work closely with your medical and surgical team during and after treatment to help you manage side effects such as shortness of breath and loss of stamina.
Follow-Up Care
After your treatment, specialists in our lung cancer survivorship program will monitor you for signs of cancer recurrence. We will also help you to manage any side effects that might result from your treatment.

cancer (KAN-ser)

A term for diseases in which abnormal cells divide without control and can invade nearby tissues. Cancer cells can also spread to other parts of the body through the blood and lymph systems. There are several main types of cancer. Carcinoma is a cancer that begins in the skin or in tissues that line or cover internal organs. Sarcoma is a cancer that begins in bone, cartilage, fat, muscle, blood vessels, or other connective or supportive tissue. Leukemia is a cancer that starts in blood-forming tissue such as the bone marrow, and causes large numbers of abnormal blood cells to be produced and enter the blood. Lymphoma and multiple myeloma are cancers that begin in the cells of the immune system. Central nervous system cancers are cancers that begin in the tissues of the brain and spinal cord. Also called malignancy.