We’re leaders in cancer research, collaborating with you to determine the best treatment plan – one that’s right for you.

Lung cancer patients receive care from our Thoracic Oncology Program. This could include surgery and additional treatments like:

• Access to innovative treatments and research at Earle A. Chiles Research Institute
• Clinical trials
• Genetic counseling and testing
• Genomic services that personalize your care using DNA and gene sequencing
• Immunotherapy treatments
• Minimally invasive surgery
• Radiation therapy
• Systemic therapies, including chemotherapies, targeted therapies, hormonal therapies and immunotherapies

Learn more about our Thoracic Oncology Program.

Compared to traditional surgery, minimally invasive surgery has many benefits, including:

• Faster recovery
• Greater precision with video-assisted visualization
• Less post-operative discomfort
• Lower need for pain relievers after surgery
• Reduced risk of complications, like infection
• Shorter hospital stays
• Smaller, less noticeable scars

If you have early-stage lung cancer, minimally invasive surgery is the preferred treatment. Lung resection surgery – the removal of a lung or its diseased portion – can be performed with minimally invasive techniques. These include:

• Robotic-assisted surgery
• Thoracoscopy, or video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS)
• Thoracotomy, an open incision

VATS allows surgeons to make smaller incisions and avoid spreading the ribs, as required in traditional surgery. A tiny video camera called a thoracoscope is threaded through an incision to view the lung on a screen and precisely maneuver surgical instruments.

Robotic-assisted surgery, similar to VATS, uses smaller incisions that eliminate the need for open-chest surgery, typical for traditional thoracic surgery. This technique is designed to extend a surgeon’s capabilities by using tiny instruments that mimic hand and wrist movements, and by giving the surgeon a magnified, 3D view inside the body.

Providence is among Oregon’s few institutions with surgeons trained on multiple robotic platforms, including the da Vinci Xi and the single-port (SP) system at both Providence Cancer Institute Franz Thoracic Surgery in East Portland and Providence Thoracic Surgery – West. This expertise lets us select the best tool for each patient and offer minimally invasive options, even for complex chest conditions.

At Providence, we offer both robotic-assisted bronchoscopy and robotic-assisted surgery under one program. We’re recognized as one of Oregon’s few facilities to provide this advanced technology, so select patients can undergo same-day biopsy and, when appropriate, treatment. This helps patients move from diagnosis to care as quickly and safely as possible.

Our multi-platform robotic capabilities set us apart in the Portland region, allowing us to tailor care for even the most complex cases.

When you first hear the words “it’s cancer,” the road ahead may seem overwhelming. But from that moment on, Providence Cancer Institute surrounds you with people to help you through the journey. Treating your cancer is not only about treating the disease; it is also about supporting you as a whole person – body, mind and spirit. Here are some of our key support services to help you get through your treatment and emerge as healthy as possible.

• Oncology nurse navigators work directly with your oncologists, surgeons, and care team to help you better understand and follow your treatment plans. The compassionate guidance of nurse navigators has been shown to improve treatment outcomes for patients.
  Learn more about nurse navigators.
• Oncology social workers are trained counselors who help patients and families cope with the emotional stresses and practical concerns associated with cancer. Providence cancer patients and their families can benefit from our social work services.
  Learn more about what an oncology social worker can do for you.
• Oncology nutrition. Cancer and cancer treatments can affect the way your body tolerates certain foods and uses nutrients. Our registered dietitians specialize in cancer nutrition and are here to help.
  Learn more about oncology nutrition.
• Integrative medicine offers an excellent complement to conventional medicine to help patients achieve optimal health. Programs and services include acupuncture, chiropractic medicine, naturopathy, therapeutic massage and more.
  Learn more about integrative medicine.
• Palliative care is a type of health care that focuses on improving your physical, emotional and spiritual health while you receive cancer treatment giving special attention to relieving pain and other distressing symptoms.
  Learn more about palliative care.
• Cancer rehabilitation combines evidence-based cancer rehabilitation practices with services to address side effects and symptoms. The result is our patients recover their energy, well-being and quality of life more completely and quickly.
  Learn more about cancer rehabilitation.

In addition to providing expert cancer care, Providence Cancer Institute provides an extra dimension of care through our many support services and cancer resources.

• Support groups provide education and support for cancer patients and their loved ones. Support groups are led by our professional staff and are offered as a free service to any person with cancer in our community.
• Peer support is offered by trained volunteers who provide one-on-one peer support for patients with cancer and/or their caregivers. It is an opportunity to talk about your fears or concerns with someone who comes from a place of understanding your journey.
  Learn more about support groups and peer support.
• The Living Well Guide is designed to provide our patients with one reference for all contact numbers, support services and self-care information.
• The Living Well Through Cancer Treatment and Beyond Video Series will give you information, support and hope. Each video features patients who share their stories and experiences with helpful advice from cancer care experts.
  Learn more about Living Well Guide & video series.
Both the Living Well Guide and the video series are available in several languages.

• Childcare
• Financial resources
• Guest housing
• Lending libraries
• Rehabilitation services
• Transportation resources
• Wellness classes
• Screening and prevention

Learn More About Support Services & Resources