Being told you have lung cancer can be scary, and you may have many questions. But you have people on your health care team who can help.
Coping with fear
It's common to feel afraid. Learning about your cancer and about your treatment choices can help you feel less afraid. It can also help you work with your health care team to make the best choices for your treatment. You can also ask to speak with a counselor.
Working with your health care team
You will likely have different types of health care providers on your health care team. These might include:
- Thoracic surgeon. This doctor uses surgery to treat diseases of the lungs, including cancer.
- Medical oncologist. This doctor has special training in treating cancer with medicines, such as chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy.
- Radiation oncologist. This doctor has special training in treating cancer with radiation.
- Pulmonologist. This doctor has special training in treating diseases of the lungs.
Other health care providers on your team may include nurse practitioners, nurses, physician assistants, social workers, rehabilitation specialists, dietitians, and pharmacists. They will answer any questions you may have.
They'll help you through each of the steps you'll take before, during, and after treatment. Your team will let you know what tests you need and the results of those tests. They'll guide you in making treatment decisions and help prepare you and your loved ones for what's ahead.
Learning about treatment choices
To decide the best course of treatment for you, your health care team needs to know as much as they can about your cancer. This may involve getting tests and working with more than one doctor. And you may decide that you want to get a second opinion to help you choose a treatment. Your team can help you do this.
Clinical trials may be another treatment choice you want to talk to your doctor about. These are studies looking at treatments that may work better than the treatments used today.
Getting support
Coping with cancer can be very stressful. Talk with your health care team about seeing a counselor. They can refer you to someone who can help. You can also visit support groups in person or online to talk with other people coping with lung cancer. Ask your health care team about local support groups.
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