Lung (Thoracic) Cancer Program
Billings Clinic's Lung Cancer Program is a coordinated multi-specialty clinic for patients with diagnosed or suspected lung cancer. A multidisciplinary lung cancer team provides state-of-the-art diagnostics, treatment, appropriate and timely follow-up, and research support.
Treatment options for lung cancers often involve multiple types of treatment. The Billings Clinic lung cancer program is a collaborative carer model. Members part of your care team include highly skilled surgeons, pulmonologists, medical oncologists, and radiation oncologists.
Members of the multidisciplinary team participate in a Lung Tumor Board every two weeks to review cases and ensure best treatment practices are offered to patients.
In addition, our lung malignancy specialists are available for consult, including second opinions of previously diagnosed cancers and treatment options through our Multi-disciplinary Lung Center.
Our clinical trials program is investigating the latest chemotherapeutic and targeted therapy for early- and late-stage lung cancer.
How does the multidisciplinary team benefit you?
- Patients are referred to the center by a Billings Clinic medical provider, an outside medical provider, or themselves.
- A patient care navigator contacts the patient and coordinates appointments for diagnostic lab, imaging and medical consults per physician order.
- The patient meets with the patient care navigator who accompanies them to provider appointments.
- A preliminary plan is completed and the case is referred to the next scheduled Lung Conference/Tumor Board.
- Final findings and treatment recommendations are presented to the patient by the lead provider.
- The patient care navigator coordinates follow up appointments for treatment.
What are the advantages?
- Enhanced referral experience for the patient
- Fostered physician collaboration during treatment planning
- Expeditious medical management
- Patient provided with clear understandable information regarding their diagnosis, treatment, and possible outcomes
Lung Cancer Screening
Billings Clinic offers low-dose lung CT scans as a screening test for lung cancer. Screening may detect cancer earlier, before symptoms occur. Lung screening is recommended for individuals who:
• Are between ages 50 and 77*
• Are still smoking or quit smoking within the past 15 years
• Have a 20-pack year or more history of smoking. A pack year is calculated by multiplying the number of packs smoked per day by the number of years an individual has smoked.
Learn more about Lung Cancer Screening or contact us at 406-238-5864 (LUNG), Monday-Friday, 8 am - 5 pm for screening assessment and scheduling.
* Insurance coverage varies. Tricare now covers screening for ages 55-80.
