Lung Cancer

Nationally Ranked in Cancer Care

UT Southwestern Medical Center is ranked among the nation's top 25 hospitals for cancer care by U.S. News & World Report. And we've earned High Performing recognition for lung cancer surgery, placing us among the country’s leading facilities for this procedure.

UT Southwestern Medical Center’s Lung Cancer Program works to help patients with lung cancer live longer, fuller lives, using early detection methods, the newest drug treatments, and innovative techniques in surgery and radiation.

As the only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center in North Texas, we deliver the best cancer care available today and push to discover new treatments. NCI designation means we offer patients the ability to participate in the broadest possible range of clinical trials, with access to potential therapies not available at other facilities.

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Lung cancer originates in the lungs, the organs located in the chest that control breathing. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in both men and women in the U.S., and it often spreads without symptoms.  

The most common cause of lung cancer is cigarette smoking. However, 15 percent of people diagnosed with lung cancer have never smoked. 

This complicated disease requires the highest standard of care, with experts who specialize in lung cancer and are committed to creating a personalized treatment plan that works for each patient.

At UT Southwestern, our multidisciplinary lung cancer team includes world-renowned experts, with radiologists, cytology and pathology specialists, pulmonologists, medical and radiation oncologists, thoracic surgeons, pain specialists, dietitians, and others, all located in one convenient clinic. We provide expert care for patients with any type or stage of lung cancer, including rare forms of the disease, such as mesothelioma.  

Our lung cancer specialists are also highly involved in research and frequently pioneer new drug treatments that are helping to turn the tide against lung cancer. Our program is a recipient of an NCI grant awarded to only 30 U.S. research institutions, which allows our patients to benefit from special access to nationwide group trials for lung cancer. 

Our Services for Lung Cancer

Lung cancer requires specialized care, so we take a different approach than other health care providers in North Texas. Our team leverages a variety of techniques to create an individualized treatment plan based on each patient’s needs.  

First, we work to detect and diagnose lung cancer as early as possible. We have a range of advanced diagnostic technologies. 

If lung cancer is diagnosed, out team will perform additional tests to stage the cancer and determine the best course of treatment. For each patient, our team collaborates to create a customized plan of care that includes one or a combination of the latest treatment options.

In addition, we offer support services for patients and their families to help them manage every situation they experience during their cancer treatment and after.