Georgia Cancer Center provides exceptional outcomes to patients with lung and thoracic cancers so they can live the highest quality of life with optimum lung function.
Every November is lung cancer awareness month. To commemorate those we have lost to
this preventable disease, Georgia Cancer Center holds a White Ribbon Ceremony to reaffirm to our patients, their families, and friends that we will continue our
battle to defeat lung cancer.
Every November is lung cancer awareness month. To commemorate those we have lost to
this preventable disease, Georgia Cancer Center holds a White Ribbon Ceremony to reaffirm to our patients, their families, and friends that we will continue our
battle to defeat lung cancer.
About
What is Lung Cancer?
Lung cancer is a type of cancer that develops in the lungs, affecting both men and
women. Lung cancer is the number-one cancer in Georgia and the nation. The goal of
the Georgia Cancer Center is to balance exceptional outcomes with high quality of
life and optimum lung function.
Lung cancer and other thoracic cancers are often complex and challenging cancers that
can require multiple types of treatment. In order to receive the most successful treatment,
it is important to diagnose and determine the stage of lung cancer and other thoracic
cancers as quickly and precisely as possible. We offer the most advanced diagnostic
methods and tools to bring Patient- and Family-Centered Care to every patient who
comes to us.
Causes of Lung Cancer
Most lung cancer cases (80%) are associated with cigarette smoking, with women twice
as likely to develop lung cancer from cigarette smoking than men. Other common causes
of lung cancer include:
Smoking cigarettes or cigars
Secondhand smoke
Asbestos exposure
Radon gas exposure
Genetic predisposition
Symptoms
Chronic cough
Coughing up blood
Loss of voice
Chronic chest pain
Unexplained weight loss or loss of appetite
Shortness of breath
Fatigue
Wheezing
Meet the Team
Depending on the patient’s stage of disease, they will be evaluated by one (or all)
of our physicians. This approach decreases the time from diagnosis to treatment, increases
patient satisfaction and, most importantly, improves outcomes.
Dr. Dan Miller: Thoracic surgeon - minimally invasive surgery (VATS and RATS)
Dr. John Kuckleman: Thoracic surgeon - minimally invasive surgery (VATS and RATS)
Dr. Rabih Bechara: Interventional pulmonologist - robotic bronchoscopy, Endobronchial Ultrasound (EBUS) and airway management
Dr. Girindra Raval: Medical oncologist - clinical trials and targeted therapy
Dr. William Grubb: Radiation oncologist - stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT)
Thoracic-Oncology NOW Clinic
The Thoracic-Oncology NOW (New Oncology Workgroup) Clinic is a multidisciplinary clinic that is staffed by four specialized physicians with
expertise in the treatment of thoracic malignancies, the clinic takes place every
Wednesday afternoon at the Georgia Cancer Center.
What We Treat
The thoracic multidisciplinary team provides personalized care for every type and
stage of lung cancer and other cancers in the chest, including:
All primary lung, thymic, chest wall (sarcomas) cancers and pleural mesothelioma
The Thoracic NOW Clinic and the use of artificial intelligence to improve the accuracy
and the diagnosis of lung nodules are important parts of the effort of our cancer
center to provide exceptional patient care.
Thoracic NOW Clinic Location: Outpatient Services Clinic – Laney Walker Time: Every Wednesday, 1:00pm – 5:00pm Testing in AM if needed: Labs, CT scans, PET, Echos, PFTs
Allied Health Personal in NOW Clinic
Patients also have access to nutritional and psychological consultants, financial
personnel, and social workers at the same time, if needed, to provide comprehensive
care and ease the burden of patients and families undergoing the treatment of thoracic
malignancies.
RD - Nutrition
SW - Social worker
Scheduler
Financial Personal
MAs - Medical assistant
Lung Cancer Screening
Lung cancer screenings are important because they check the health of your lungs to
find cancer in its earlier stages when it's more treatable.
Call for a lung cancer screening appointment 706 -721-1628 8:30am - 4:30pm, Monday – Friday
Image Boutique, sells supplies to help survivors look and feel their best.
Mental and spiritual health counseling.
Pain management
Lung Cancer Support Group- Open for all those affected by lung cancer. We welcome all current and past patients,
along with family, friends and loved ones to join us. Educational materials, resources,
and other important information will be shared at each meeting. The meetings are held
on the fourth Wednesday of every month from 4 p.m. – 5 p.m. in room AN-1305 of the
Georgia Cancer Center Outpatient Services – Laney Walker clinic. If you are interested
in attending, or have questions, you can contact Jacey Salley by calling 706-721-2505 or via email at jsalley@augusta.edu.
