Patient-Based Council

Lung Cancer Council

Treatment in lung cancer starts with accurate staging and a complete molecular profile. Our council brings thoracic surgery, radiation oncology and medical oncology into a joint assessment.

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About the disease

Lung cancer is divided into two main groups: non-small cell (NSCLC) and small cell (SCLC). This distinction, together with accurate staging, determines the treatment path from the outset.

In early stage disease surgery or stereotactic radiotherapy comes to the fore, while in locally advanced disease concurrent chemoradiotherapy followed by immunotherapy is considered. Fitness for surgery is assessed together with pulmonary function and general condition.

In advanced disease, driver mutations such as EGFR, ALK, ROS1 and BRAF along with PD-L1 level directly influence targeted therapy and immunotherapy decisions. Complete molecular testing is a prerequisite for reaching the right treatment.

Which specialties evaluate it?

In this council your case is reviewed jointly by the disciplines below.

Thoracic Surgery
Medical Oncology
Radiation Oncology
Pulmonology
Radiology
Pathology
Nuclear Medicine
Molecular Tumor Board

Files requested from the patient

Pathology report and, if possible, biopsy block / slide details
Molecular test results (EGFR, ALK, ROS1, BRAF, PD-L1, etc.)
Thoracic CT and PET/CT images and reports
Cranial MRI report (if requested during staging)
Pulmonary function test results
Discharge summary and details of chemotherapy / immunotherapy cycles received

Clinical questions answered

Is my tumor suitable for surgery, and if not which option comes to the fore?
Is there a targeted therapy that matches my molecular profile?
Is immunotherapy suitable for me, and what does my PD-L1 level mean?
Should radiotherapy and chemotherapy be given concurrently?
What should the treatment sequence be and how will response be monitored?
Is there a suitable clinical trial option?

Scope of the council report

Written opinion confirming the case was reviewed by a multidisciplinary council
Council confirmation of the diagnosis, stage and risk group
Recommended treatment options and the reasoning behind them
Alignment with current guidelines (ESMO / NCCN) and a level-of-evidence note
Comparison of alternative options and their expected side-effect profiles
Recommendations for any additional tests or consultations
Potentially suitable clinical trial options

Scope of the second opinion

Independent review of the current diagnosis and staging
Re-evaluation of pathology and imaging findings
Confirmation that the ongoing or planned treatment is appropriate
Comparative presentation of alternative treatment approaches
Clarification of unanswered clinical questions
Assessment of how well the decision fits the patient’s priorities and quality-of-life goals