Smoking and Lung Cancer

It has been said that the only excuse for smoking…is being on fire. I want to discuss and emphasize the carcinogenic (cancer causing) effects of cigarette smoke. Then we can review the role of thoracic surgery and thoracic surgeons in the care of patients with lung cancer, the subject of Read More

Lung Cancer: Atypical Locations

Be prepared. The lung cancer in most patients on whom we thoracic surgeons operate is situated entirely within a lobe of the lung and a lobectomy is a sufficient operation. Occasionally, as previously discussed, it is too large or is positioned such that an entire lung must be removed; a Read More

Thoracic Surgery and Lung Cancer: Who Operates?

Homogeneity does not describe the surgical community. This can confuse someone looking for the right lung cancer surgeon. There are general surgeons and thoracic surgeons (who have confusingly self-divided themselves into cardiac, cardiothoracic and general thoracic subspecialties). Within all these surgical groups can be found surgeons who operate for lung Read More

Thoracic Surgery and Lung Cancer : Operations

Goldilocks…the principle, not the character. The thoracic surgeon must get the operation “just right.” Take out too much lung and the patient is forever short of breath; not enough and the cancer is not cured. As I discussed in a previous blog, Evarts Graham, a surgeon in St. Louis, performed Read More

Lung Cancer and Thoracic Surgery Today: Staging

Staging cancer…it has nothing to do with the theater. In short, staging is determining the extent of the lung cancer. Is the tumor invading into structures outside the lung such as the rib cage or the heart? Has the cancer spread through the lymphatic system to lymph nodes near but Read More

Modern Era Lung Operations

Lung operations in humans arrive. In 1931, Rudolf Nissen reported the first successful pneumonectomy (removal of an entire lung in surgeonese). His patient was a 12-year-old girl with chronic infection. She suffered a cardiac arrest during an initial attempt, was resuscitated and underwent the successful operation two weeks later. Nissen Read More

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About Me

Georgia boy
Avid reader
World traveler
In love with my wife of 42 years

I Want to Share My Passion

Have you, a family member or a friend experienced or are currently facing chest surgery?

Are you simply curious about this surgical specialty?

Are you considering a career in Medicine/Surgery?

One of my aims is to provide interesting and informative discussions of thoracic surgeons, thoracic surgery, the diseases they treat and the issues they face. These discussions will both review the development of thoracic surgery and elaborate on the current role surgeons play in the treatment of diseases of the chest including both lung and esophageal cancer.

In addition I will also sprinkle in discussions of other health care related considerations and toss in occasional interviews with a variety of people with some connection to surgery and/or other health care activities

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