We have a comprehensive specialty center to offer hope and guidance for lung cancer patients. In one visit, patients meet key providers:

• Thoracic surgeon
• Pulmonologist
• Medical oncologist
• Radiation oncologist

Our dedicated clinical Nurse Navigator helps lung cancer patients navigate the health system and the entire treatment process. This ensures prompt access to all services needed. The goal is to deliver optimal outcomes with compassion and convenience for patients and families.

Every patient receives a comprehensive evaluation, by our cancer specialists who together decide on the best action plan for each patient. This individualized plan consists of a specific program for treatment, including scheduling for all necessary tests.

Lung Cancer

Lung cancer remains the most frequent cause of cancer death for both men and women in North America. There are over 1 million new cases of lung cancer diagnosed annually world-wide. CyberKnife has been used from the beginning to treat end-stage, inoperable lung tumors. Now researchers are using the CyberKnife for early stage lung cancer. Our researchers are participating in a national research study to compare outcomes of patients who use the CK for early treatments, vs. patients who have traditional surgery.

Saint Joseph Mercy Health System is part of an International Randomized Study to Compare CyberKnife Stereotactic Radiotherapy With Surgical Resection In Stage I Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (STARS).

Why is the STARS study being done?

Lung cancer remains the most frequent cause of cancer death in both men and women in the world. Surgical resection using lobectomy with mediastinal lymph node dissection or sampling has been a standard of care for operable early stage NSCLC. Several studies have reported high local control and survival using SBRT (CyberKnife) in stage I NSCLC patients. SBRT is now an accepted treatment for medically inoperable patients with stage I NSCLC and patients with operable stage I lung cancer are entered on clinical protocols. The purpose of this study is to conduct a phase III randomized study to compare CyberKnife SBRT with surgery, the current standard of care for stage I operable NSCLC.

Sites from around the world are participating in this 1,200-patient study, with coordination and oversight by the M. D. Anderson team. The goal of the study is to compare treatment outcomes between surgery and CyberKnife radiosurgery across a broad range of geographic healthcare markets.

A major factor in the success of this study is selecting the most accurate method of treatment that will maximize radiation to the tumor and minimize damage to surrounding healthy tissue. The CyberKnife Radiosurgery System at SJMHS combines a Synchrony(R) Respiratory Tracking System and Xsight(R) Lung Tumor Tracking System, which allows patients to receive a completely non-invasive treatment in three to four days through the precise delivery of high-dose radiation.

"Over the past five years clinicians have obtained excellent outcomes treating lung cancer with CyberKnife Radiosurgery," said Omar Dawood, M.D., MPH, vice president of Clinical Development of Accuray Incorporated. "We believe the CyberKnife System's unique ability to track tumor motion and deliver radiation accurately and non-invasively make it the ideal platform for this clinical study. We are excited about this partnership with M. D. Anderson, a leader in cancer treatment, and the huge benefits this study's outcomes could have for patients with lung cancer."

Patient Benefits

• Prevents delays in treatment while waiting for multiple appointments
• Provides evaluation for the latest national cancer research trials
• Access to Pain Management Counselors, Clinical and Research Nurses, Oncology Social Workers, Nutrition Therapists and Pastoral Counselors
• Support from lung cancer survivors with their first-hand experiences
• Offers early access to resources for financial assistance

Using the most advanced technology available, including CyberKnife(r) Radiosurgery and the daVinci(r) robotic-assisted surgical system, the Lung Cancer Specialty Center provides treatments for all stages of the disease. In addition, our expert team conducts investigational studies at the forefront of cancer care. Even staging of lung cancer can proceed using endoscopic ultrasound guided (EUS) bronchoscopy and EUS guided esophagoscopy for staging and intervention.