Lung cancer, while serious, can often be treated successfully if detected early. As one of a few specialists with access to the latest technologies, I can offer curative options to more patients than ever before, including those who might only receive palliative care elsewhere.
While smoking is the most common cause, lung cancer can affect non-smokers too. Common symptoms include persistent cough, coughing up blood, chest pain, breathlessness, and unexplained weight loss. Early detection is crucial, so seek medical attention promptly if you experience these symptoms.
Lung cancer begins with abnormal cell growth in the lungs, potentially spreading to lymph nodes or other parts of the body. There are different types, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC).
Modern treatments like chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted radiotherapy are extending survival and improving quality of life, even for patients with advanced disease. I’m committed to offering the best possible care for each patient’s specific situation.
What Can You Expect When We Meet for the First Time?
Receiving a lung cancer diagnosis affects everyone differently. I’ll take time to understand its impact on you and your loved ones, answering any questions you may have. Feel free to bring someone to appointments for support.
We’ll review your test results together, including scans if helpful, to ensure you clearly understand your situation as we make decisions. I’m committed to providing thorough explanations and will meet with you as often as needed to build your confidence.
Time is crucial with lung cancer, so we’ll aim to start treatment promptly once we determine the best approach. I’ll see you regularly to assess symptoms and support you through this challenging time.
Our dedicated team addresses all aspects of your care. You’ll be introduced to a Clinical Nurse Specialist for additional support. Dieticians, physiotherapists, and occupational therapists are also available to optimise your health and maintain quality of life during treatment and beyond.
Treatment of Lung Cancer
Lung cancer treatment depends on the type and stage of cancer, as well as your overall health. I tailor my treatment recommendation to your unique situation. This may include surgery, chemotherapy (including immunotherapy and targeted therapies), radiotherapy, or different combinations of all of these treatments.
Curative treatment options beyond surgery
We’ll discuss all available treatment options before making a final decision together. For cases where both surgery and radiotherapy are possible, I often arrange joint consultations with a thoracic surgeon to help you make the best choice.
Surgery isn’t suitable for everyone due to cancer-specific factors or other medical risks. We always respect your preferences regarding treatment.
I specialise in state-of-the-art therapies that offer powerful alternatives to surgery, tailored to different stages of lung cancer. My expertise in advanced radiotherapy techniques is recognised nationally, leading to referrals for complex cases.
I have access to cutting-edge treatments like proton beam therapy and the MR-linac, which may offer curative options not available elsewhere. If these haven’t been discussed with you, please contact us to explore your potential options for lung cancer treatment.
The following image shows an early-stage lung cancer that could be treated with stereotactic radiotherapy.
Radiotherapy to cure lung cancer
Stereotactic Radiotherapy (SABR or SBRT):
Stereotactic radiotherapy (SABR) is a precise, high-dose treatment for early-stage lung cancer. It’s highly effective, with my personal cure rate at 90%. SABR requires fewer hospital visits than standard radiotherapy—typically 3-5 outpatient sessions, sometimes just one.
Treatment sessions last about 45 minutes. You’ll feel well enough to travel and can drive during and after treatment. We can provide accommodation for those outside London. I’ll monitor your progress throughout. While side effects are less common with SABR, we’ll address any promptly to maintain your quality of life.
Using advanced image-guided techniques, I can treat cancers near the heart, oesophagus, or main airways that some centres can’t. If you’re in this situation, please contact us to discuss how SABR might help.
I also offer stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) for brain metastases. This non-invasive treatment is highly effective at controlling or eliminating brain tumours.
Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapy (IMRT)
IMRT (or Volumetric Arc Therapy; VMAT) is a modern approach to delivering conventional radiotherapy. For certain stages of lung cancer, I recommend this treatment to maximise your chances of a cure.
I frequently use IMRT for patients with Stage III lung cancer, which involves larger tumours or cancer that has spread within the chest. To optimise your chance of being cured, I typically combine this treatment with chemotherapy, followed by immunotherapy. We will discuss the best combination of treatments tailored to your needs to provide the highest chance of success.
Proton Beam Therapy (PBT)
Proton beam therapy (PBT) is a specialised radiotherapy that targets tumours more accurately, reducing radiation to essential organs and tissues.
Not widely available in the UK, I treat patients at a central London PBT centre, receiving referrals nationally and internationally. We can arrange nearby accommodation for those travelling to London.
PBT is especially beneficial for young people, lung cancers near vital organs, those previously treated with chest radiotherapy, or with certain pre-existing lung conditions. It often allows me to offer curative treatment to patients who’ve been treated before or declined radiotherapy elsewhere due to health issues or technical limitations.
Radiotherapy for Symptom Control
Even if lung cancer has spread outside of the chest (Stage IV, or metastatic lung cancer), radiotherapy provides significant benefits alongside drug treatments such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapies. The radiotherapy I offer is highly effective for controlling symptoms like pain, bleeding or cough. If the lung cancer has spread to the spine and is pressing on the spinal cord or nerves, radiotherapy can help prevent or reduce symptoms, thereby maintaining your mobility and quality of life.
Drug treatments for lung cancer
I’ll ensure you receive the best drug treatment tailored to your personal situation and your lung cancer’s unique characteristics. This may include immunotherapy, chemotherapy, or targeted therapies based on your tumour’s genetic profile.
For some patients, I recommend drug treatment before surgery or radiotherapy to shrink the tumour and improve treatment success. For others, it’s given after surgery to eliminate remaining cancer cells and reduce recurrence risk. In advanced cases, chemotherapy can manage the disease and alleviate symptoms, improving your quality of life.
Immunotherapy: Harnessing Your Body’s Own Defences
Immunotherapy is one of the most exciting advancements in lung cancer treatment. This approach works by boosting your immune system’s ability to recognise and attack cancer cells. The goal is to empower your body to fight the cancer more effectively. I sometimes combine immunotherapy with other chemotherapy treatments.
Targeted Therapies: Precision Medicine for Lung Cancer
Targeted therapies, such as Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors (TKIs, e.g. Osimertinib, Alectinib, Sotorasib), focus on specific genetic mutations or proteins that are driving the cancer’s growth. This precision medicine approach allows for more effective treatment with potentially fewer side effects than traditional chemotherapy. Targeted therapies are often used when a specific mutation is identified, giving you a tailored treatment plan that addresses the unique characteristics of your cancer.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy remains a cornerstone in the treatment of lung cancer. It works by killing rapidly dividing cancer cells throughout the body.
Each treatment option is part of a larger strategy to give you the best possible outcome, and I am here to support you every step of the way.
Case studies
Mrs CJ
Mrs CJ is 71 years old. She smoked for about 30 years, but stopped just over 20 years ago. Since retirement, she enjoys being active – mostly running after one of her grandchildren. She is a central part of her grandchildren’s lives, often doing the school drop-off and pick-up. She has a diary packed with walking groups, dinner with friends and she goes to a music concert every week. Being told she had lung cancer was not only devastating – it was also a terrible inconvenience! She was determined to make the most of her retirement.
After the initial shock, Mrs CJ was adamant that her cancer diagnosis was not going to dominate her time and she was determined to maintain her quality of life. I met her alongside a thoracic surgeon and after a discussion of the differences between surgery and stereotactic radiotherapy, she opted for SABR. This decision was mostly driven by her desire to avoid overnight stays in hospital – even for a very short time.
A week after her radiotherapy planning scan, she started treatment. She had three SABR treatments, on Monday, Wednesday and Friday of the same week. We were able to schedule her appointments for a time that suited her – 09:30, after dropping two of her grandchildren off at school. She was in the hospital for up to 45 minutes each time and then got on with her day as usual.
For two weeks after SABR, Mrs CJ noticed she was more tired. On three occasions she went to bed for a short nap in the late morning. She also thought that her cough may have been slightly worse for a week or two, but she couldn’t be sure. She then returned to feeling like her usual self.
In the first year after treatment, Mrs CJ had a scan and an appointment with me every few months. She was able to go on a summer holiday that had been planned before her diagnosis without any problems. She gets a little anxious each time we meet to get scan results, but I always remind her that the vast majority of patients are cured of lung cancer after the treatment she has received.
For the remainder of our follow-up, I see Mrs CJ twice a year for a scan and to ask about her symptoms. Five years after her treatment, she doesn’t require any further follow up appointments and she returned to life as normal.
Mr MP
When I first met Mr MP, he’d already received two years of treatment for his advanced (Stage 4) lung cancer. He’d received treatment with chemotherapy and immunotherapy with a good response.
For three months before our first appointment, he’d been experiencing pain in his right hip. Previously, he wasn’t taking any pain killers. When we met, he was on a high dose of morphine, a strong pain killer, and was struggling with its side effects (drowsiness and constipation). A scan confirmed that, unfortunately, the cancer had spread to his right hip joint and was progressing, leading to his pain and reduced mobility.
Mr MPs greatest pleasure had been to play half a round of golf every Friday. He hadn’t felt able to do this for the last 8 weeks as he was in too much cancer-associated pain.
Following discussion about his treatment options, he decided to go ahead with palliative radiotherapy for symptom control.
He attended for a radiotherapy planning scan and received a single radiotherapy treatment the next day.
When I met him 3 weeks later, he was taking less than half of the strong painkiller that he’d been taking when we met. I arranged for a physio to see him in his own home. When we meet 2 months after treatment, he only requires paracetamol to control his pain and has managed a couple of rounds of golf.
Patient Testimonials
I have nothing but praise for the manner in which he has steered me through this difficult year during which I was diagnosed and subsequently treated for lung cancer. My meetings with him soon became very positive experiences and I always left feeling better in spirit than when I arrived, notwithstanding the inevitable sometimes serious subjects being discussed. I suppose that shows a skill in considering the “whole person” rather than just the illness.
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James is warm and genuine. He treats me like a person rather than just a patient. At the start of my treatment there was a difficult decision to make and he talked me through it with patience and clarity. I feel blessed that he has been my most consistent point of contact.
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