The UT Medical Center Chest Service was established in 1996 as the first multidisciplinary, site-specific clinic in the Cancer Institute. The Chest Service offers consultation, diagnosis and treatment for all cancers of the chest. Malignancies of the lung, esophagus, trachea, chest wall, pericardium and pulmonary system are managed by a specialized oncology team.

The Chest Service provides the most effective and efficient approach to cancer care by having a team of physicians goes directly to the patient instead of the patient having to travel from office to office. This approach, as well as the use of protocols established on the latest scientific, evidence-based literature, decreases wait time, patient anxiety and healthcare costs for the patient and family by eliminating multiple visits and testing.

From the initial call by either a physician or patient, the Chest Service will schedule an appointment within three days for assessment, evaluation and testing. Each patient’s case along with diagnostic study results is reviewed in the multidisciplinary Pulmonary Conference held weekly. After reviewing and discussing each patient, the team then recommends a plan of care based on the newest evidence-based guidelines and treatment. The recommended plan of care then is discussed with the patient who participates in the final decision for care/treatment. Once the plan of care is established, this information is sent to the referring and/or primary care physician. Second opinions also are made available to patients and physicians.

The Chest Service nurse coordinator works with the patient, family and physicians to manage all aspects of the patient’s care and treatment. The coordinator serves as a central contact available to the patients, their family and the physicians to ensure the coordination of the patient’s care. The Chest Service maintains a comprehensive database on all patients referred to the service thereby assuring the availability of comprehensive data for outcome reporting, abstracts and professional research articles.

Smoking is extremely hazardous and is known to affect various diseases, including causing or accelerating the development of lung cancer. For smoking cessation tips (to stop smoking), visit www.smokefree.gov. Also, Tennessee announces first Tennessee Tobacco Quitline. 

Although cigarette smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer deaths in the United States, radon is the second. Radon problems have been identified in every state. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reports that nearly one out of 15 homes has indoor radon levels exceeding the recommended guidelines.

Read more about air quality and radon from the American Lung Association.