Lung Cancer

Lung Cancer Services are provided in the South Eastern Health & Social Care Trust across all hospital sites and serve a population of approximately 440,000 people.

The services that are available for patients with lung cancer include:

• Diagnostics
• Chemotherapy
• Specialist palliative and supportive care and follow up
• Immunotherapies
• TKIs’

New and review clinics are held at the Ulster, Lagan Valley and Downe Hospital and also at Ards and Bangor Community Hospitals. However, in 2011 a Red Flag Respiratory Clinic (for suspected lung cancers) was established at the Ulster Hospital and now almost all Red Flag referrals are coordinated through this service. A Respiratory Ambulatory service (Hub) has also been recently developed to allow rapid access for patients as an alternative to hospital admission or for those requiring procedures such as pleural aspiration.

For many patients chemotherapy is delivered at the MacDermott Unit at the Ulster Hospital whilst others attend the Cancer Centre at the Belfast City Hospital for chemotherapy treatments. Radiotherapy is delivered at the Cancer Centre and Thoracic Surgery at the Royal Victoria Hospital.

There are many people involved in providing care for patients with lung cancer. This group is called a Multi-Disciplinary Team (or MDT).

The primary aim of the South Eastern Trust Lung Cancer MDT is to ensure equal access to diagnosis and treatment for all patients in our catchment area with suspected lung cancer. In order to achieve this aim, we provide a high standard of care for all patients including, efficient and accurate diagnosis, ensuring that invasive investigations are only used where necessary and ensuring continuity of care.

---

• Useful Links

  Clinical Psychology Service
  Palliative Care Team
  Counselling Service
  Macmillan Information and Support
  Northern Ireland Cancer Network
  Cancer Focus Northern Ireland