Dallas County Living Well Magazine Summer 2014 | Page 25
Q&A with Mitchell J. Magee, M.D.
Southwest Cardiothoracic Surgeons
Lung Cancer Surgery
Dr. Mitchell J. Magee completed a
research fellowship at M.D. Anderson
and earned his medical degree from
the University of Texas Medical School
at Houston. He completed his internship and general surgery residency at
the University of Southern California
and completed a thoracic surgery residency at the University of Pittsburgh
Medical Center. In 2007, he returned
to the University of Pittsburgh Medical
Center Heart, Lung and Esophageal
Surgery Institute to complete additional fellowship training in minimally
invasive surgery. He continues to be a
committed researcher through the Cardiopulmonary Research Science and
Technology Institute in Dallas.
and other diseases of the chest, other than
the heart. This is a “super specialist” beyond
general and cardiothoracic surgery.
Thoracic surgeons have had years of additional
training in their area of expertise (lung cancer).
Therefore, you are in the hands of an expert
in their field. As a result:
Your lung cancer is more likely to be staged
correctly (stages 1, 2, 3 or 4) if you consult
with a thoracic surgeon which, in turn, is
critical in receiving the correct treatment
based on the stage of your cancer.
Your long-term prognosis is more likely to be
positive if you are treated by a surgeon who
specializes in lung cancer—a thoracic surgeon.
An experienced thoracic surgeon will more
likely use minimally-invasive techniques
with greater results due to his or her specialized training and expertise for your lung cancer. Studies have shown that risks are lower
and cure rates higher when lung cancer
procedures are performed by thoracic surgeons compared to general or cardiothoracic
surgeons.
Q: Why do I need to be
concerned about lung cancer? Isn’t this just a problem for heavy smokers?
Q: How can minimally
A: Lung cancer causes more deaths
invasive surgery improve
than the next three most common cancers
outcomes?
combined (col