At Ascension Wisconsin Cancer Care, our experienced lung specialists are part of a national team of doctors, sharing best practices and advanced treatment options for lung cancer care and benign lung nodules – bringing the best of oncology to you, close to home.
Comprehensive care for lung and chest cancer
When you choose Ascension Wisconsin you get a multispecialty team of doctors, prioritizing early and personalized treatment: board-certified, fellowship-trained thoracic surgeons, pulmonary medicine specialists, radiologists, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, a care navigator, and a dedicated team of oncology nurses, dietitians and cancer specialists. Your doctors and care team will deliver a customized care plan for your cancer from diagnosis through survivorship. We treat many types of cancer, including:
- Esophageal cancer
- Large cell lung cancer
- Lung carcinoid tumor
- Mesothelioma, cancer that forms in the tissue that lines many internal organs
- Metastatic lung cancer
- Non-cancerous lung nodules
- Non-small cell lung cancer
- Small cell lung cancer
- Tracheal cancer
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If you’re going through lung cancer care, we’re by your side
Cancer is personal, so is the way we care for you. When you choose Ascension Wisconsin cancer care, you’re never alone. You’ll have face-to-face visits with your doctor, and you’ll have an entire care team, dedicated to your care – connecting the dots for you. Your doctor and care team or care navigator will take the time to answer all your questions – big and small. By getting to know you and working together, you get a care plan that’s customized to your needs. Our goal is to help you recover faster so you can get back to home, family, life and self.
Team approach helps navigate tests and support services
Along the way, your care may require imaging, lab tests, pharmacy support, respiratory therapy, rehabilitation specialists, lymphedema occupational or physical therapy, or other specialists. You do not have to navigate your care alone. Upon your cancer diagnosis, or when you come to us during your cancer care, you’re paired with a cancer care navigator. Your care team will help you schedule appointments, connect with other services you need, and answer your questions. No question is too small — when you have a concern or feel unsure, don’t hesitate to talk with your care team and ask your questions.
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Ask about virtual care (e.g, telehealth or online) appointments as part of your ongoing care. You can have these virtual visits from the comfort of your home. You'll be able to talk with your doctor one-on-one via video from your phone or computer and get the care that's right for you.
Get a second opinion on your cancer diagnosis or care plan
Get the confidence and peace of mind that your doctor and care plan are right for you. It's easy to get a second opinion at Ascension Wisconsin. We can review your medical records and health history to answer your questions and discuss options. Talk with one of our doctors about a personalized care plan.
When you are facing a new lung cancer diagnosis or are deciding on a surgical or therapeutic treatment plan, there’s a lot to think about. Our lung cancer specialists can provide a second opinion, based on our experience and as part of a national team.
Before your appointment, check with your insurance company to find out if a second opinion is covered. We can request your medical records on your behalf, so that they can be shared with your care team before your arrival.
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Benefits of our approach to lung cancer care
Cancer specialists who know you and your condition review your treatment and progress. They work together to customize your overall care plan to support your physical well-being and mental and emotional health. Ascension Wisconsin Cancer Care offers comprehensive cancer care, including:
- Pulmonology: Pulmonologists help evaluate lung nodules, and specialize in diagnosing and treating lung conditions.
- Thoracic surgery: Surgeons specialize in video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) using smaller, more precise incisions to remove nodules and tumors in the lungs, chest and esophagus.
- Medical oncology: Medical oncologists work with your surgeon to deliver advanced care using chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, biological therapy and targeted immunotherapy to help stop cancer spread. Medical oncologists are often the main healthcare provider for someone diagnosed with cancer.
- Radiation oncology: Advanced radiation therapy is used to target and destroy cancer cells while avoiding the surrounding healthy tissue.
- Interventional radiology: Radiologists specialize in minimally invasive, image-guided surgery using advanced imaging techniques, such as CT, ultrasound, MRI and fluoroscopy.
- Oncology-certified nurse practitioners: Advanced practice registered nurses (NP) assess each patient’s needs, orders and interprets diagnostic and laboratory tests, diagnoses diseases, and prescribes treatment or surveillance plans.
- Clinical trials: Our care team is dedicated to providing advanced care for chest and lung cancers and tumors. Thoracic surgeons at Ascension Wisconsin participate in lung cancer and esophageal cancer clinical trials. To see if a clinical trial is right for you, talk to your doctor or contact the Ascension Wisconsin Research Institute by calling 414-635-6420 or email AWRI.Inquiry@ascension.org.
- Genetic counseling and testing: If you are high-risk or have a family history of cancer, we deliver cancer genetic screening, testing and counseling to help you and your doctor better understand your risk for developing cancer.
- Cancer prevention and wellness care: At Ascension Wisconsin we offer a comprehensive approach to identifying and monitoring an individual’s risk for developing cancer. Through our personalized Cancer Prevention and Wellness Program, we’ll work closely with you to create a care plan that includes targeted screenings, testing and follow-up care based on your individual risk. Talk with your doctor or contact the Cancer Prevention and Wellness Program at 262-785-2273.
- Oncology rehabilitation with lymphedema therapy: Oncology rehab treats cancer related weakness, fatigue, and pain and helps manage swelling from lymphedema. Care teams assess the impact of surgical and radiation procedures on the body, focusing on stretching, positioning, and strengthening.
- Support programs and resources: Your cancer care team provides support from nutrition education and counseling to cancer support groups and spiritual care. And, at Ascension Wisconsin sites of care, our healing gardens and chapels are always open to patients and your loved ones. We offer supportive care and activities for the whole you. Call 262-204-7409 for more information.
- Financial advocates: Financial advocates are here to help guide you through your cancer treatment and recovery. We assess benefits and insurance coverage so you can focus on your well-being. We also help find financial resources to offset out-of-pocket costs, when possible.
- Lung screening and diagnostic tests: We offer imaging locations close to home – from dedicated low-dose CT lung screening to minimally invasive lung biopsies using endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) and navigational bronchoscopy or robotic-assisted bronchoscopy. Together, this improves the detection of early stage lung cancer and access to hard to reach nodules in the lung.
Ascension Wisconsin Cancer Care is accredited by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer (CoC) as an Integrated Network Cancer Program and the recipient of the American Community Cancer Centers Innovation Award.
Lung screenings help detect cancer early
The first step is to find out if a low-dose CT lung screening* is right for you. Talk with your doctor. If you need help to stop smoking, your doctor can connect you with our certified tobacco treatment specialists. We recommend annual low-dose CT screenings for:
- Smokers without symptoms and former smokers aged 50 to 80 who have smoked 20 pack-years or more (this means one pack a day for 20 years, OR two packs a day for 10 years, etc.) and either continue to smoke or have quit within the past 15 years.
- Smokers without symptoms and former smokers outside of the smoking and age criteria listed above but are deemed high risk of having/developing lung cancer (risk factors can include family history of lung cancer, emphysema, pulmonary fibrosis, and exposure to certain substances).
*A referral from your primary care doctor or other provider is needed for a low-dose CT scan. If you don’t have a primary care doctor, contact our Cancer Prevention and Wellness Program at 262-785-2273 to get a referral.
Frequently asked questions about our lung cancer care services
