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Patients seeking or being referred to UC Davis Health for lung cancer treatment can expect to be supported throughout their care journey. Navigating a cancer diagnosis for patients and caregivers can be an overwhelming process that involves a great deal of education as well as multiple appointments for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up care.

Our Lung Cancer Integrated Service Line program assigns patient navigators to serve as a step-by-step guide throughout the process. These navigators serve as partners in the care of patients.

How Your Diagnostic and Treatment Journey Begins

Your lung cancer care journey likely will begin with a screening at the UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center’s Lung-LEAD Clinic. Early in the process, your patient navigator will review your report from your referring physician, including detail about your smoking history, if any, and determination about whether or not you should have a low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) scan. Your navigator will help coordinate appointments with physicians in various disciplines, help ensure timely scheduling and completion of the LDCT and any other prescribed tests, and coordinate with personnel in our office who determine coverage from insurance carriers.

Following completion of your diagnostic testing, your cancer treatment team will review the results and discuss the diagnosis and treatment options with you. UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center performs a wide array of diagnostic tests and treatments for lung cancer, which depend upon the type and progression of disease.

Treatment and follow-up evaluations to monitor your recovery and manage possible treatment side-effects often are ongoing, and your navigator will help you adjust to your care routine. Screening at the Lung-LEAD Clinic provides comprehensive evaluation and early detection services for lung-related ailments.