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Lung Unit

The Lung Unit provides state-of-the-art treatment for all forms and stages of lung cancer and mesothelioma within the framework of a comprehensive clinical research programme.

Lung cancer, mesothelioma and thymoma treatment

The Lung Unit is based across The Royal Marsden's hospitals in Chelsea and Sutton, and at Kingston Hospital in Surrey. It sees over 500 new patients each year.

The unit is primarily focused on the treatment, rather than diagnosis, of lung cancer. The unit works in close collaboration with chest physicians, thoracic surgeons and clinical nurse specialists in lung cancer and palliative care in nearby district general hospitals, from whom we receive most of our referrals.

What happens when a patient comes to the unit?

Patients who are referred to this unit have normally already been diagnosed with cancer at another hospital. A multidisciplinary team of respiratory physicians, surgeons, medical and clinic oncologists, radiologists and pathologists will meet to review the patient's notes in detail and plan treatment options.

At this meeting, it is decided whether further investigations are necessary, and which treatments should be used. The team will discuss the various treatment options with the patient and various tests will also be carried out. This might include blood tests, measurement of height and weight, and an electrocardiogram (ECG) to test the heart's rhythm.

When a patient comes to the unit to begin treatment they are seen by a registrar and a consultant who both specialise in a specific condition. Patients also meet a Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS).

The CNS provides information about lung cancer, advice on how to manage the side effects of treatment and can also refer patients for psychological support if necessary. This support is available from diagnosis, throughout treatment and during follow-up care.

How do we treat lung cancer?

We use a range of treatments depending upon the nature of the patient's cancer. They are as follows:

Chemotherapy – a type of treatment which uses medicines used to kill cancer cells
Radiotherapy – treatment which involves the use of radiation
Immunotherapy – treatment using substances to stimulate an immune response
Targeted therapy – treatment that uses drugs or other substances to specifically attack cancer cells and do less damage to normal cells
Clinical drug trials

Find out more about treatments at The Royal Marsden.