Your Healthcare Team

If you have been diagnosed with lung cancer, finding a doctor and treatment facility for your cancer care is an important step to getting the best treatment possible. Although the healthcare system is complex, resources are available to guide you in finding a doctor, getting a second opinion, and choosing a treatment facility.

Your doctor may refer you to a specialist who has experience treating lung cancer, or you may ask for a referral. You may have a team of specialists. Specialists who treat lung cancer include:

• Thoracic (chest) surgeons
• Thoracic surgical oncologists
• Medical oncologists
• Radiation oncologists
• Pulmonologist (a lung specialist)
• Respiratory therapist
• Oncology nurse
• Registered dietician

Below are suggestions and information resources to help you with these important decisions.

National Cancer Institute
Cancer Information Service at 800-4-CANCER (800-422-6237)
A listing NCI Cancer Centers and doctors at those institutions is available on the Internet at NCI
http://nci.nih.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Therapy/doctor-facility

American Board of Medical Specialties

The Official ABMS Directory of Board Certified Medical Specialists is available at most public libraries.
You can find a doctor's board certification status by calling 866-275-2267(866-ASK-ABMS)
or checking online at www.abms.org - these services are free, but the Internet service requires registration.

American Medical Association

Physician Select is a free, online search service that offers basic professional information on nearly all licensed physicians in the United States. This service can be accessed at www.ama-assn.org

American Society of Clinical Oncologists (ASCO)

ASCO offers a free, searchable, online list of ASCO members available at www.asco.org/ .

Your first meeting with someone you are considering to be your doctor is an opportunity to collect valuable information that will help you later decide whether you want him or her on your cancer care team.

Educational information provided by The National Cancer Institute (NCI) Internet site.