Lung Cancer: A Guide to Diagnosis and Treatment

What is my prognosis? What are my treatment options? Which therapies would be the most effective for my stage of lung cancer? These and other frequently asked questions are addressed in this crucial reference designed to help patients educate themselves and obtain the best possible treatments. The completely revised second edition has been updated to include a discussion of the movement towards customized chemotherapy; treatment options for early-stage lung cancer including minimally invasive surgery; and the most promising treatments, among them multimodality therapy—a combination of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. Dr. Scott also surveys tests for early detection of lung cancer, talks about the importance of cancer staging, examines alternative treatments, and offers advice on coping with emotions such as "smoker's guilt."

Walter J. Scott, MD, is an associate professor in the section of thoracic surgical oncology at Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia, one of the first comprehensive cancer care centers designated by the National Cancer Institute. He is board certified in both thoracic and general surgery and specializes in the treatment of cancers involving the chest, with a special emphasis on lung cancer. He is an editorial reviewer for the Annals of Thoracic Surgery, the Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, and the journal Lung Cancer. He serves as a chair of the Thoracic Oncology Network of the American College of Chest Physicians. He lives in Rydal, Pennsylvania.