Lahey Health is now part of Beth Israel Lahey Health

At the Lahey Health Cancer Institute (LHCI), our thoracic cancer surgeons use the most advanced approaches to treat chest and lung cancer, supported by the latest therapeutic advancements and state-of-the art-technologies.

World-Class Cancer Care Lung Cancer Treatment VATS Lobectomy Our Philosophy

World-Class Cancer Care

Thoracic Surgery Team at Lahey Our thoracic cancer surgeons offer you comprehensive, world-class care close to home. Chest and lung cancer conditions treated surgically at LHCI include:

  • Malignant and benign tumors in your lungs and airways
  • Cancer of your esophagus (tube through which food passes from your throat to your stomach)
  • Cancer that originated elsewhere and has spread to your chest (metastases)
  • Pleural effusions (when cancer causes a buildup of fluid around your lungs)
  • Thymoma (a tumor in the center of your chest) and other mediastinal tumors
  • Mesothelioma (cancer of the tissue that lines your lungs, heart, and chest wall)

Our thoracic surgeons perform more robotic surgery for lung and chest cancer, including robotic lobectomy and robotic esophagectomy, than any other New England hospital. They are committed, whenever possible, to robotic surgery due to its benefits for the patient: greater surgical accuracy, less pain, and a quicker recovery.

In-house molecular analysis of lung tumors removed after minimally invasive surgery are often used for molecular gene-typing to identify their susceptibility to today’s newer targeted drugs.

Lung Cancer Treatment

At LHCI, we offer all surgical approaches to lung cancer, from minimally invasive, video-assisted, lung-sparing procedures to complex reconstructions for advanced cases. Surgical resection for lung cancer may involve the removal of a small portion of your lung, a lobe of your lung, or occasionally your entire lung to achieve complete removal of the cancer and increase long-term cure rate after surgery.

We discuss and plan your treatment in our Multidisciplinary Thoracic Oncology Conference and Clinic. Specialists from each of the lung cancer-related fields gather to discuss your specific diagnosis and treatment plan.

Our outcomes are excellent due to advances in our ability to diagnose and treat lung cancer using individualized plans for each person who comes to us for care.

Robotic & VATS Lobectomy

Lahey thoracic surgeons are skilled in a type of minimally invasive lung cancer surgery called Robotic VATS lobectomy.

A traditional lobectomy (removal of a lobe of your lung) requires a large incision in your chest wall and spreading your ribs to allow access to your lung.

Robotic Video-assisted thoracoscopic (VATS) lobectomy, on the other hand, is performed through small incisions and without spreading or injury to your ribs. Often, the da Vinci XI robot is used to provide improved access within the chest, reduce blood loss, and allow for more accurate surgery, without causing injury to the chest wall. Spreading your ribs is not required because the thoracic surgeon uses specially designed instruments and a thin camera that fit between your ribs. Advantages for you include less postoperative discomfort in your chest wall, shorter stays in the hospital, and, typically, a more rapid recovery of lung function.

Our Philosophy

We treat you, first and foremost, as an individual, with compassion, personal attention, and true caring. We recognize that a diagnosis of cancer often leads to physical, psychological, and emotional stress–we will be with you through every step of your journey as you return to wellness.