Newly diagnosed lung cancer patients have more reason to be optimistic than at any time in the past. Advancements in early detection and treatment have steadily improved the outlook in recent years.

At the Norton Cancer Institute Comprehensive Lung Center, our oncologists and other specialists have extensive experience improving the lives of those with lung cancer. It’s a special need in Kentucky. In 2018, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the age-adjusted lung cancer death rate in the United States was 34.8 per 100,000. Kentucky has the highest age-adjusted lung cancer death rate at 53.5, followed by West Virginia (50.8), Mississippi (49.6), Arkansas (47.4), and Oklahoma (46.8).

More people in Louisville and Southern Indiana choose Norton Cancer Institute for lung cancer care than any other provider in the area. Our lung cancer oncologists and other specialists are board-certified and fellowship-trained leaders in their field. They’re at the forefront of new discoveries that help patients get back to living their lives.

If you’ve been diagnosed with lung cancer, you want to start getting better right away. That’s why we offer same-day appointments for newly diagnosed patients. Our comprehensive lung cancer team covers you from lung cancer diagnosis to cancer treatments like radiation therapy and chemotherapy, also offering clinical trial participation. 

At Norton Cancer Institute, you’ll have a one-on-one relationship with your oncologist, surgeon, radiation oncologist or other specialist. The next lung cancer doctor you see will be either someone you know or someone you’ll be seeing again who knows your case.

Innovative Lung Cancer Care Tailored for You

We use the latest equipment and procedures to make a precise diagnosis of your lung cancer, including small cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer. 

We can evaluate masses painlessly with ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging. Biopsies — procedures to extract tissue and examine it — are another way to precisely diagnose your lung cancer. We use robotic-assisted bronchoscopy to perform minimally invasive biopsies in the lungs, including often difficult-to-reach parts of the lung where airways are tiny.

Once we determine the type of cancer you have, we create a care plan that’s tailored to you based on the stage of your tumor and your treatment goals. Your comprehensive care team of physicians and other health care providers meets regularly to review your case and plan the next steps.

Your customized lung cancer treatment plan may include surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy, as well as targeted molecular therapies for certain subtypes of lung cancer.

Our state-of-the-art treatments include immunotherapy and biologic therapies that can provide a unique lung cancer care plan designed specifically to target the genetic makeup of your cancer.

In addition to our current leading-edge treatments, we offer our cancer patients the opportunity to participate in innovative National Cancer Institute- and industry-sponsored clinical research studies. These trials help improve current cancer treatments, in addition to finding new and promising solutions.

Lung Cancer Care for the Whole Person

Our Norton Cancer Institute Comprehensive Lung Center uses a multidisciplinary team approach. Our center allows you to see your oncologist, surgeon, radiation oncologist, counselor, nutritionist and other members of your care team all in one visit. No other facility in town offers the same seamless care. We have four dedicated patient navigators who manage day-to-day details and patient appointments. Specialists include pulmonologists, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, thoracic surgeons and support services (dieticians, etc.). All our oncologists subspecialize in lung cancer. Our teams attend tumor boards to determine the best plan of care for your specific case. Patients often can get into the clinic within days of a referral to the Comprehensive Lung Center.

We offer state-of-the-art diagnostic tools and treatment techniques, including ultrasound, MRI and biopsies. Biopsies are done with minimally invasive robotic-assisted bronchoscopy. Targeted molecular therapies are used for certain subtypes of lung cancer. Other treatments include immunotherapy and biologic therapies designed specifically to target the genetic makeup of your cancer.

In addition to our current leading-edge treatments, we offer our patients the opportunity to participate in innovative National Cancer Institute- and industry-sponsored clinical research studies.

Five Norton Cancer Institute Resource Centers in Louisville and Southern Indiana offer a variety of support services that address the emotional, physical and spiritual needs of patients and their families. Specially trained oncology nurses also are on hand to provide one-on-one counseling. Patient resources offerings range from wigs to massage/music/art therapy, support groups and the Norton Cancer Institute Sexual Health Program. We take care of not just the body, but the person within.

Norton Cancer Institute is part of the first health system in Kentucky to become a GO₂ for Lung Cancer Center of Excellence in both care continuum and screenings. This designation reflects the use of:

• A patient-centric, collaborative care model that means patients can see an oncologist, surgeon, radiation oncologist, counselor, nutritionist and other members of their care team all in one visit
• The most effective diagnostic and therapeutic technologies and techniques available

Medicare, Medicaid and most major insurance plans are accepted.

Communicate with your care provider, renew prescriptions, make appointments and get alerted if an earlier appointment becomes available through your free Norton MyChart account.

Norton Cancer Institute has multiple outpatient locations and infusion centers in Louisville, in surrounding counties in Kentucky and in Southern Indiana. We have multiple radiation centers located just off major interstates, with free self-service parking and valet parking.

Why Choose Norton Cancer Institute

More patients in Louisville and Southern Indiana choose Norton Cancer Institute than any other provider in the area. We provide compassionate care for the whole person, not just the cancer.

Our Norton Cancer Institute oncologists are also researchers and principal investigators, offering patients sophisticated experience in the latest treatments and access to more than 200 clinical trials.

• Access to more than 100 specialists, including board-certified and fellowship-trained oncologists
• Multidisciplinary setting, meaning you get the benefit of opinions from multiple specialists across Norton Healthcare and often can schedule appointments for the same day in the same location
• Immunotherapies such as CAR-T cell therapy, genetic therapies tailored to combat the unique genetic makeup of your cancer and the latest in surgical treatments, chemotherapy and radiotherapy
• State-of-the-art Norton Cancer Institute Genomics Lab offering highly specialized testing that makes it possible to tailor advanced treatments based on a tumor’s specific genetic composition
• Robotic-assisted bronchoscopy for minimally invasive lung biopsies that can reach more parts of the lung without major surgery
• Medicare, Medicaid and most major commercial insurance accepted
• At Norton Specialty Pharmacy, patients receive regular consultations on their medications and treatment plan, making sure they get their prescriptions quickly and accurately. Our specialty pharmacists collaborate closely with your oncology team.
• Use your free Norton MyChart account to communicate with your provider, manage appointments, refill prescriptions, get on the wait list for an earlier appointment and more anytime from a mobile device or computer