Lung Cancer

Lung cancer can be a life-changing diagnosis. One that can happen to anyone — whether you smoke or not. And if you’re facing lung cancer, it can be overwhelming. What will happen to me? Is there a treatment that help me? Those big questions on this journey can be a lot to handle, but you’re not alone. The compassionate and experienced consultants at Cleveland Clinic London can help you on the way to reclaim your health and well-being. Our expert consultants use evidence-based techniques that eliminate cancer while preserving lung function.

Chest and Lung Tumours We Treat

Our consultants have in-depth knowledge in diagnosing and treating:

• Primary lung cancer, tumours that start in the lungs.
• Secondary lung cancer, tumours that spread (metastasise) from other areas, such as the colon, rectum or kidneys.
• Chest wall and mediastinal tumours, cancerous or noncancerous tumours that form in the protective tissue surrounding the heart, liver and lungs.
• Mesothelioma, rare condition in which growths form in the lining of the lungs and chest wall (mesothelium).
• Thymoma and thymic carcinoma, rare cancers affecting the thymus gland behind the breastbone.

Your care will be guided by our expert thoracic (lung and airway) surgeons, including many who are leaders in the field. They offer a depth of experience, successfully treating rare and complex cases. We frequently use gentle techniques that help you retain more healthy lung tissue. This approach leads to a quicker and easier recovery with preservation of lung function.

Highlights of our programme include:

• Team approach: A group of consultants review every case, enabling us to tailor services to your needs. Thoracic surgeons work alongside respiratory physicians, oncologists and radiologists. We collaborate with additional specialists, such as colorectal surgeons and kidney specialists (nephrologists), to coordinate services for secondary cancers.
• Lung-sparing surgery: We can often treat early-stage, primary lung cancer by removing the smallest necessary amount of tissue. This method optimises lung function and is especially helpful if you already have chronic lung disease or other medical issues. Find out more about minimally invasive lung cancer surgery.
• Gentler care: We typically perform diagnostic procedures and deliver therapies without large incisions. Our consultants use sophisticated methods such as . Cleveland Clinic London is also home to some of the U.K.’s most experienced robotic thoracic surgery providers.
• Timely services: Our team of experts evaluates new cases promptly and meets weekly. This streamlined process means that you can get lung cancer surgery soon after an initial consultation. Get started by calling +44 20 3423 7500.

Second Opinions and Virtual Consultations

People from all over the world turn to our consultants for second opinions about their diagnosis or treatment plan. We provide you with answers guided by research and decades of experience. You can often access this service through virtual visits, so you don’t have to travel to get the information you need.

Lung Cancer Screening

If you have ever smoked and are between ages 55 and 74, you may be eligible for lung cancer screening. This test checks for early signs of cancer before you start noticing symptoms.

Screening involves an imaging study and consultation with one of our respiratory physicians. If the test uncovers a suspicious growth, we offer all the services you may need, including advanced studies to confirm or rule out lung cancer.

Our expert consultants offer a wide range of lung cancer procedures. We develop a treatment plan that meets your needs.

Bronchoscopic procedures

In this procedure, our consultants will use a slender tube with a camera and instruments at the tip (bronchoscope). We’ll slide the device down your airway to get to get a better view of your lungs to assess and sometimes treat cancer of the lungs.

• Endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS): An imaging device at the bronchoscope tip helps us look beyond surface layers of tissue. In addition to pinpointing a lung tumour’s size and location, we may also take a tissue sample (biopsy).
• Navigational bronchoscopy: This method uses GPS-like technology to reach tissue, including small tumours, deep within the lungs. We also deliver other non-surgical treatments, like radiofrequency ablation that destroys cancer cells using high-frequency radio waves.

Minimally invasive lung-sparing surgery

Your lungs have five sections, or lobes — two lobes on the left lung and three on the right lung. Instead of removing the entire lung, we may remove one of the lobes (lobectomy) or part of a lobe (segmentectomy). These approaches lower the risk of long-term complications, like difficulty breathing, and help you recover quickly.

Our consultants excel in all forms of minimally invasive lung cancer surgery, including:

• Video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS): Surgeons slide a tiny camera through a small chest incision and additional instruments through other small incisions. The camera provides a live video feed that helps the surgeon carry out the procedure.
• Robotic thoracic surgery: This option offers the highest level of precision. It uses a 3D camera and wristed controls that interpret the slightest movement of the surgeon’s hands.

After your operation, recovery starts in our intensive care unit (ICU) — one of the most advanced facilities in the U.K.’s private healthcare sector. You’ll undergo watchful monitoring from specially trained ICU nurses. On-site consultants manage your needs 24/7. And lung surgeons check in on you every day.

Additional lung cancer treatments

Chemotherapy and immunotherapy are often necessary after lung cancer surgery. If you are not eligible for surgery, you may benefit from these services in addition to radiotherapy.

Our partnership with The London Clinic gives you easy access to non-surgical treatments. Their consultants attend our multidisciplinary team meetings, enabling us to tailor services to your needs. We closely communicate with them throughout your care to manage all the details so you can focus on healing.

Lung Cancer Self-Pay Services

Contact us or call +44 20 3423 7500 for more information about services for cancer of the lungs.

We make it easier to access expert care in the U.K. Read more about payment information, including options for self-pay and private medical insurance. If you are coming to us from another country, learn more about coordination available through Global Patient Services.