Resource Center

For Patients

  • Lung Cancer: risk factors, symptoms, diagnosis & treatment
  • Asking the right questions – LUNGevity’s comprehensive guide to making the most of your doctot’s visit.
  • Learn more about lung cancer via this resource from the American Cancer Society
  • The American Cancer Society’s guide to understanding your pathology report
  • DFCI Cancer & Nutrition podcasts: Learn about the relationship between diet and cancer
  • A multimedia PBS piece on lung cancer and those affected.
  • A very handy card to guide and make the most of your next doctor’s visit from LUNGevity.

For Caregivers

  • LUNGevity offers tips and resources for caregivers of lung cancer patients

For Survivors & Advocates

Educational Videos

Patient Tips:

Tips for getting in and out of bed after surgery, courtesy of Meryl Bralower:

click here for video

To access the individual videos, please click on the title.

Women and Lung Cancer – Yolonda Colson, MD, PhD

Yolonda L. Colson, MD, PhD, Director, Women’s Lung Cancer Program at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, explains the significance of lung cancer in women, which accounts for more cancer deaths than breast, ovarian and uterine cancer combined. She also describes how lung cancer in men and women differs in terms of risk factors, cancer type and response to treatment.

Lung Cancer 101: for Women and Men – Yolonda Colson, MD, PhD

A lung cancer diagnosis may be frightening, but there is hope. Dr. Yolonda Colson, a thoracic surgeon and director of the Women’s Lung Cancer Program at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, discusses the advancements in treatment and improving survival rates among lung cancer patients, as well as the support resources available to them.

Exercise Your Lungs Before and After Surgery – Paul Ricard, PT, DPT, CCS

Lung cancer patients can help speed up their own recovery through safe and individualized exercise. Paul Ricard, a physical therapist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, discusses tips and techniques for patients to incorporate physical activity and breathing exercises before and after surgery.

Pain Control: Don’t Just Grin and Bear It – Darin Correll, MD

Pain control is an important element of a lung cancer patient’s recovery from surgery. Dr. Darin Correll, an anesthesiologist and director of the Postoperative Pain Management Service at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, explains that postoperative pain control is necessary to maintain a patient’s comfort and allows for a better recovery.

Things to Know About Therapy – J. Paul Marcoux, II, MD

There have been many advancements in both our understanding of the genetic basis of lung cancer and treatment options. Dr. J. Paul Marcoux, a medical oncologist at Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women’s Cancer Center and director of the Lowe Center for Thoracic Oncology, explains what patients can expect from various aggressive treatments.

Treatment’s Over…So Now What? – Kenneth B. Miller, MD

Cancer patients often face challenges as they transition from treatment to being a cancer survivor. Dr. Ken Miller of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute talks with Bernard Bandman, PhD, about what to expect and how to cope with concerns.

 Care Plans: Roadmap to Your Future (Health) – Rich Boyajian, RN, MS, NP

Cancer survivors can experience short- and long-term health challenges as a result of their treatment. Rich Boyajian, a leukemia survivor and nurse practitioner at Dana-Farber, explains the importance of a treatment summary and aftercare plan to help survivors and their doctors be better prepared.

The Fear Factor: What if IT Comes Back? – Amy Grose, MSW, LICSW

Living with the fear that cancer will return is common for both cancer survivors and their loved ones. Amy Grose, a social worker at Dana-Farber, discusses how to deal with fear of recurrence.

Take Control and Quit Smoking – Mary Cooley, PhD RN

Kicking the habit may be especially important for cancer survivors, according to Dana-Farber’s Mary Cooley, Ph.D., CRNP. Tips to help quit smoking: http://www.dana-farber.org/Health-Library/Quitting-Smoking-after-Cancer-Treatment.aspx

I Made It! Why Aren’t I Happy? – Karen Fasciano, PsyD

Feeling sad, lonely, or irritable after cancer treatment is common, but these feelings can become a problem if they interfere with daily life, says Karen Fasciano, a psychologist at Dana-Farber.

 Supporting Lung Cancer Patients – Allison DiBiaso, LICSW

A lung cancer diagnosis often stirs up a range of emotions in patients. Allison DiBiaso, a social worker at Dana-Farber, discusses how support systems are important to help patients transition from diagnosis to treatment to recovery, and how to adjust through the process.

Talking with your care team after cancer treatment – Bernard Bandman, PhD

Bernard M. Bandman, PhD, offers real-world tips to help cancer survivors talk with their doctors and nurses when transitioning out of treatment.