Lung Cancer Care in Portland and Vancouver

At Compass Oncology, our cancer specialists are dedicated to supporting you through the complexities of a lung cancer diagnosis.

Find a Lung Cancer Doctor

Our multidisciplinary team collaborates with you to create a personalized treatment plan that considers the specific type and stage of your lung cancer and your individual preferences.

This patient-centered approach ensures that you receive the most advanced treatments tailored to your needs and comprehensive support throughout your cancer journey.

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Next Steps After a Lung Cancer Diagnosis

If you or someone you know has recently been diagnosed with lung cancer, you probably have a lot of questions. We hope to help you learn more about what to expect next and the treatments based on the type of lung cancer and its stage. Our team prepared this guide to help you prepare for your first appointment with your lung cancer oncologist.

What to Expect After a Lung Cancer Diagnosis

A Team Approach to Lung Cancer Treatment

The lung cancer specialists at Compass Oncology offer personalized care for patients with non-small cell lung cancer and small cell lung cancer. Our multidisciplinary care team includes medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, and palliative care specialists, who collaborate closely with a thoracic surgeon to provide comprehensive care. Learn more about who is on the lung cancer treatment team at Compass Oncology.

Meet Our Lung Cancer Team

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Lung Cancer Types

Lung cancer is primarily categorized into small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), named for how the cells appear when viewed under a microscope. NSCLC is more common than SCLC and other types of lung cancer such as mesothelioma. Your treatment plan will be developed based on the type of lung cancer.

Types of Lung Cancer

Stages of Lung Cancer

Cancer staging determines the size, location, and spread of lung cancer. For patients with non-small cell lung cancer or small cell lung cancer, staging tests confirm whether the cancer is limited to the chest or has spread elsewhere. This information helps oncologists recommend treatment options.

Lung Cancer Staging

Lung Cancer Treatment Options

Lung cancer treatments have become more advanced in the past decade, with molecular testing available for non-small cell lung cancer, and the introduction of new targeted and immunotherapy drugs. This means lung cancer treatment is now more specific to each patient's diagnosis than ever before.

Lung Cancer Treatments

Molecular Testing for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Molecular testing, also called biomarker testing, for non-small cell lung cancer looks for changes in the patient’s genes that lead to the growth of lung cancer. These changes, called mutations, allow the lung cancer doctor to identify targeted therapy drugs that will slow the cancer’s growth. Some common gene mutations included in the biomarker testing process include: EGFR, ALK, ROS1, and BRAF among others.

Lung Cancer Biomarker Testing

Lung Cancer Clinical Trials

Compass Oncology, in partnership with Sarah Cannon Research Institute (SCRI)—one of the world’s leading oncology research organizations—offers access to the latest lung cancer research. Our lung cancer specialists help patients in the Portland, OR, and Vancouver, WA, area explore clinical trial options that may be ideal for a specific type of lung cancer.

See if a Clinical Trial is Right for You

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the signs and symptoms of lung cancer?

Lung cancer can happen to anyone, whether you are young, old, a smoker, or a non-smoker. While most lung cancers do not cause symptoms until the cancer has become advanced, that is not the case for everyone.

Discover the signs of lung cancer.

Can I be screened for lung cancer?

People at high risk of developing lung cancer are eligible for lung screening using a low-dose CT scan (LDCT). Lung cancer screenings are recommended yearly for people between 50 to 80 years old, in good health, and currently smoke or quit smoking in the last 15 years. You must have a smoking history of at least a 20-pack-year. A 20-pack year is 1 pack of cigarettes per day for 20 years, 2 packs of cigarettes per day for 10 years, or 3 packs of cigarettes a day for 7 years.

Learn more about lung cancer screening and who qualifies for screening.

How fast does lung cancer grow?

Non-small cell lung cancer, which accounts for about 80% of all lung cancers according to the American Cancer Society, tends to grow slower than small cell lung cancer which is known as a more aggressive type of lung cancer. However, within non-small cell lung cancer, there are subtypes: adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and large cell carcinoma. Squamous cell and large cell carcinomas are less common than adenocarcinoma and tend to grow faster. Your oncologist will be able to address the type of lung cancer and when treatment should begin based on how quickly it’s growing.

How is lung cancer diagnosed?

If your doctor suspects you may have lung cancer, several different tests are run to look for cancerous cells including a biopsy. If cancer is found, further testing is done to understand the extent of the cancer's growth, called staging. Learn more about the common diagnostic lung cancer tests for both non-small and small cell lung cancers.