People with cancer of the chest region (thorax) often require complex treatment approaches that combine surgery, chemotherapy, radiation and, in many cases, new therapies and procedures. University of Minnesota Physicians’ thoracic cancer team cares for more than 1,000 patients each year.

Our surgeons' primary focus is minimally invasive pulmonary and esophageal surgery, with the full range of thoracoscopic and diagnostic procedures available. For early-stage lung and esophageal cancer, minimally invasive procedures can be performed instead of traditional open surgery, often resulting in faster recovery times and reduced pain and scarring.

Thoracic cancer care team

Rafael Andrade, MD - Thoracic and Foregut Surgeon
L. Chinsoo Cho, MD, MS - Radiation Oncologist
Jonathan D'Cunha, MD, PhD - Thoracic and Foregut Surgeon
Arkadiusz Dudek, MD - Medical Oncologist
Edward Greeno, MD - Medical Oncologist
Jose Jessurun, MD - Pathologist
Robert Kratzke, MD - Medical Oncologist
Priya Kumar, MD - Medical Oncologist
Michael Maddaus, MD - Thoracic and Foregut Surgeon

Common cancers of the chest region

Cancers that develop in the chest (thorax) are known as thoracic cancers.

Lung cancer
Lung cancer is the leading cause of death from cancer in the United States and is becoming more common among women and across the world. Lung cancer has a tendency to spread, or metastasize, very early in the course of the disease. As such, it is a life-threatening form of cancer and one of the most difficult to treat.

Learn more about lung cancer.  

Esophageal cancer
Esophageal accounts for less than 1 percent of all cancers, but its incidence is increasing. Cancer can develop in any part of the esophagus and can spread to surrounding lymph nodes, the windpipe, the large blood vessels in the chest and other nearby organs. Treatment for esophageal cancer depends on a number of factors, including its exact location, size, extent and type of cancer cells. Your care team will also consider your age and general health to develop a treatment plan to fit your needs.

Learn more about esophageal cancer.  

Mesothelioma
Malignant mesothelioma is an uncommon form of cancer that can occur in several areas of the body, but most commonly in the chest. The name stems from the fact that this cancer originates in body tissue known as the "mesothelium," a specialized layer of cells that line and protect many internal organs, primarily within the chest and abdominal cavities. Mesothelioma is closely linked to environmental or occupational exposure to asbestos. Difficult to diagnose, mesothelioma is frequently discovered after many years of growth.

Learn more about mesothelioma.