Lung cancer treatment at Penn Medicine Princeton

Lung cancer management is improving, thanks in part to improved lung cancer screening rates, says Leonid Emerel, MD, a thoracic surgeon at Penn Medicine Princeton in Plainsboro, NJ.

“The medical community has done an amazing job of increasing lung cancer screening, leading to a lot more diagnosis of early-stage lung cancers, which are the most treatable and have the best outcomes,” he explains.

Dr. Emerel joined the Penn Medicine Physician Interviews podcast (see link below) to discuss the patient-centered approach to the diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer at Penn Medicine Princeton’s multidisciplinary cancer clinic.

Multidisciplinary treatment for lung cancer

At Penn Medicine Princeton’s cancer clinic, a team of medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, surgeons, social workers, dietitians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and other cancer specialists work together under the same roof.

This team approach streamlines care for patients and is particularly valuable in managing more complex cases, Dr. Emerel says. “We work together to evaluate each patient’s unique circumstances to provide the appropriate tests to diagnose and stage their cancer and discern the best treatment option.”

The care at Penn Medicine Princeton includes comprehensive cancer treatment options like minimally invasive surgeries and robotic assisted procedures. These interventions are used for biopsy and surgical treatments, including tumor resection, lobectomy, and lymphadenectomy.

The surgical team is also experienced in endobronchial ultrasound, an advanced diagnostic procedure that allows surgeons to sample lung tissue and surrounding lymph nodes without incisions.

Responsive, patient-centered care

The Penn Medicine Princeton lung cancer team sees most patients within three days of initial consultation, ensuring timely tests and treatment, while nurse navigators handle the scheduling, paperwork, and authorizations. This allows patients to leave their first appointment with a list of next steps for testing and appointments without having to make calls themselves.

“A lot of the responsibility falls on us and not the patient, because it can be very overwhelming,” Dr. Emerel says. “Our practice has fantastic outcomes and really provides a humanistic approach to patient care.”

The team also prides itself on being easily reachable for other providers and referring physicians, says Dr. Emerel, who sees patients in the Medical Arts Pavilion at Penn Medicine Princeton.

Clinical consult and patient referral

Leonid Emerel, MD, sees patients at Penn Medicine Princeton in Plainsboro, NJ. To refer a patient, please call the 24/7 provider-only line at 877-937-7366 or submit a request via the secure online referral form.

Associated Resources

Episode: Penn Medicine Princeton | Multidisciplinary approach to non-small cell and small cell lung cancer

Dr. Leonid Emerel provides an overview of the management of non-small cell and small cell lung cancer at the multidisciplinary cancer clinic in the Medical Arts Pavilion at Penn Medicine Princeton Thoracic Surgery. Dr Emerel discusses diagnostics, chemotherapy, immunotherapy and surgery, and the value of rapid access to the surgeons on staff.

Listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube Music.