Finding the Best Lung Cancer Surgeon and Treatment Options

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• Importance of a Second Medical Opinion
• Choosing University Medical Centers
• Evaluating Surgeon Experience and Volume
• Understanding Surgeon Judgment and Variability
• Researching Surgeon Reputation Online
• Leveraging Professional Networks
• Feeling Comfortable With Your Medical Team

Importance of a Second Medical Opinion for Lung Cancer

Dr. Michael Lanuti, MD, strongly advocates for obtaining a second or even third medical opinion after a life-changing lung cancer diagnosis. He notes that every surgeon has their own opinion, and this judgment is not something constant. This variability in expert assessment makes multiple consultations essential, especially for complex conditions like Bronchioloalveolar carcinoma (BAC) or Lepidic growth adenocarcinoma.

Dr. Anton Titov, MD, reinforces this point by sharing a personal experience where a second opinion from Dr. Lanuti provided a curative surgical opportunity that other experienced doctors had missed. This case highlights how a different perspective can reveal treatment options that significantly alter a patient's prognosis and quality of life.

Choosing University Medical Centers for Expertise

Dr. Michael Lanuti, MD, identifies major university-based medical centers as the primary locations to find leading lung cancer experts. These larger institutions typically have specialists who focus on specific niches, such as lung cancer or esophageal cancer, allowing for a deeper and more concentrated expertise.

He explains that experts at these centers handle lung cancer therapy every day and understand all the nuanced aspects of treatment. For a patient seeking the best care, targeting these academic hubs is a crucial first step in navigating a complex diagnosis.

Evaluating Surgeon Experience and Patient Volume

A critical factor in selecting a surgeon is the sheer volume of lung cancer patients they treat annually. Dr. Michael Lanuti, MD, draws a stark contrast, noting that some surgeons may only see 100 lung cancer patients a year, which he considers insufficient for developing deep expertise.

In contrast, high-volume surgeons at major centers may see over 1,000 lung cancer patients a year. This extensive experience across a wide range of cases and patient ages provides the confidence that a patient is dealing with a highly competent and practiced medical and surgical cancer therapy team.

Understanding Surgeon Judgment and Variability

The interview with Dr. Michael Lanuti, MD, underscores that well-trained surgeons can be found globally, but their clinical judgment is not constant. He provides a clear example: an 84-year-old patient with lung cancer might be deemed a non-surgical candidate by one surgeon but a viable candidate for curative surgery by another.

This variability is not a matter of right or wrong but reflects different experiences and perspectives. Dr. Anton Titov, MD, agrees, noting that for life-dependent decisions, patients must weigh these different treatment options carefully to understand them fully.

Researching Surgeon Reputation Online

Dr. Michael Lanuti, MD, suggests that patients can begin their search for an expert by using online tools to research a surgeon’s reputation. While Google is a common resource in many countries, he acknowledges it is not universally available, such as in China, and other web-based search platforms may be necessary.

This initial digital research is presented as one component of a broader strategy. It helps patients identify potential experts and institutions known for their work in thoracic oncology before pursuing more direct inquiries.

Leveraging Professional Medical Networks

Beyond individual online research, Dr. Michael Lanuti, MD, highlights the immense value of tapping into a professional network of people. This could include referrals from other physicians or connections within the medical community that can lead to the most renowned specialists.

He specifically mentions that projects like the Diagnostic Detective Network, which facilitates expert medical second opinions, can be instrumental in this process. These networks help bridge the gap between patients in need and the highly specialized experts best suited to treat their specific condition.

Feeling Comfortable With Your Medical Team

A final, crucial step is ensuring you feel comfortable and confident with your chosen medical team. Dr. Anton Titov, MD, reiterates the point made by Dr. Lanuti that obtaining multiple opinions doesn't hurt and often helps a patient arrive at a decision they are fully comfortable with.

This process of consultation, which may involve a second, third, or however many opinions it takes, is about more than just medical facts; it’s about building trust and confidence in the team that will guide you through treatment. Ultimately, this comfort is a vital component of successful patient care.

Full Transcript

Dr. Anton Titov, MD: Get a second or third medical opinion if you have a life-changing diagnosis. Every surgeon has their own opinion. It's not something constant.

Leading cancer surgeon explains how to get the best treatment in lung cancer and other life quality-changing diseases.

Dr. Anton Titov, MD: You cured my mother from Bronchioloalveolar carcinoma (BAC) lung tumor. The lung Bronchioloalveolar carcinoma tumor situation was very interesting. Some very experienced doctors in lung tumors said, "Elderly woman, not many options."

You recognized that there was an opportunity for lung tumor Bronchioloalveolar carcinoma surgery. We could do curative surgery for Lepidic growth adenocarcinoma. Surgery would be without any requirements for radiotherapy or subsequent chemotherapy.

Many people with Bronchioloalveolar carcinoma lung cancer are in similar situations around the world. It took us a very deep medical literature search for Bronchioloalveolar carcinoma. We did global professional network research to find an expert for Lepidic growth adenocarcinoma.

You are really focused on Bronchioloalveolar carcinoma lung tumor. What would you recommend to patients and their families?

Dr. Anton Titov, MD: How can they find the best experts for the Lepidic growth adenocarcinoma?

Dr. Michael Lanuti, MD: I imagine Lepidic growth adenocarcinoma treatment is country specific, but I can speak to the US. Maybe you can translate.

In the US, the major medical centers are usually university-based. Big university hospitals have more experts in fields. Experts tend to have niches. Some experts focus on just lung cancer or just esophageal cancer.

In general, you'll find lung cancer experts at the larger medical institutions. The caveat is that you want someone who does lung cancer therapy every day and knows all the nuances.

Dr. Anton Titov, MD: How do you figure that out?

Dr. Michael Lanuti, MD: I think it's by the sheer volume of the institution. How many patients with lung cancer experts see. Sometimes lung cancer experts only see a hundred lung cancer patients a year. That's not enough.

Sometimes surgeons see over a thousand lung cancer patients a year. I think that would give a patient confidence. You're dealing with the medical and surgical cancer therapy team that is competent.

Surgeons are different all over the world. I think well-trained surgeons can be found everywhere in the world. Surgeons have their own judgment. Judgment of surgeon is something that's not constant.

Sometimes a patient who is 84 years old presents with lung cancer to one surgeon. The same patient then presents to a second surgeon. Both of these cancer surgeons might have different opinions. They may think the patients are candidates for surgery.

You're looking for someone who has a range of experience across all ages of patients. You are still going to get best cancer treatment in larger universities.

You could always Google people and see the surgeon’s reputations. Google is not in every country particularly. It’s not in China. Other web-based searches can help.

I think that's one part of looking for medical expert to treat cancer. I think you have to go beyond that. A network of people helps, of course. Something like this Diagnostic Detective Network project might help as well.

Perhaps it speaks to the value in many situations of medical second opinion or expert opinion. Because the judgement of any particular surgeon could be different.

In life-dependent decisions, one has to weigh different treatment options and understand them better.

Dr. Anton Titov, MD: I think that you've articulated a very important point. Sometimes there is an important life decision for someone. To get a second opinion doesn't hurt you.

Traveling for a medical second opinion sometimes might help you. You've brought up a very good point of being comfortable with your team. You need to consider a second or sometimes third opinion.

Not only medical second opinion, but the third opinion. And however many it takes.

Dr. Michael Lanuti, MD: Correct.

Dr. Anton Titov, MD: And it was certainly true in our situation. Correct.