Lung Cancer

This condition is treated in the Respiratory and Sleep Medicine clinic.

Pre-referral work-up

History

• Suspected lung cancer*
• Lung mass for assessment
• All cases will be viewed as urgent
• Referrals can be made to the Department of Respiratory Medicine in your region.
• Cases can be discussed with the Respiratory Registrar or the Consultant on call (contact via Switch in your area)

All referrals should comply with the referral standards and specifically include:

• Recent symptoms
• Smoking history
• Occupational history, including prior asbestos exposure
• Functional status (ECOG score)

Tests

Pathology:

• FBC,
• UEC,
• LFT,
• Ca/Mg/PO4

Imaging:

• Relevant imaging (CXR/CT) (including previous images)

Investigations:

• Nil

Interim/GP management

To refer a patient with this condition, please see the Respiratory and Sleep Medicine clinic page for the full referral process and templates.

Lung cancer should be considered if potential symptoms/signs of lung cancer including unexplained haemoptysis, new or changed cough, chest and/or shoulder pain, shortness of breath, hoarseness, anorexia, weight loss, unresolved chest infection, abnormal chest signs clubbing, cervical and/or supraclavicular lymphadenopathy, features suggestive of metastasis from the  lung (brain, bone, liver, skin) pleural effusion, SVC obstruction, stridor are unexplained and greater than 3 weeksin duration.

Please refer to the Cancer Council of Australia website for GP advice regarding the investigation and management of patients with suspected lung cancer.

For more information please see the HealthPathways Tasmania website.

Clinic appointments

🚩 Red location flags are clinical indicators of possible serious underlying conditions requiring further medical intervention. They may or may not indicate an emergency.

Emergency

🚩 Suspected or known lung cancer with any of the following concerning features:
-  large haemoptysis
-  suspected large airway obstruction 
-  acutely unwell with dyspnoeic 
-  severe hypercalcaemia

If you, or someone else, are experiencing a serious and life-threatening injury or illness call triple zero (000) immediately or go to the nearest Emergency Department.

Learn more about when to access emergency care and non-emergency care options if the injury or illness is not serious or life-threatening.

Urgent (Category 1)

• lung mass/es
• suspected lung cancer - ensure all signs/symptoms of lung cancer included in referral detail

All referrals are considered urgent, please also select urgent flag.

For all referrals, please select any relevant presenting signs/symptoms of lung cancer below (where unexplained/present for 3 weeks or more)

• unexplained haemoptysis
• new or changed cough
• chest and/or shoulder pain
• shortness of breath
• hoarseness
• anorexia
• weight loss
• unresolved chest infection
• abnormal chest signs clubbing
• cervical and/or supraclavicular hymphadenopathy
• features suggestive of metastasis from the lung (brain, bone, liver, skin)
• pleural effusion
• SVC obstruction
• stridor

We will endeavour to see these patients within four weeks.

Patients with suspected lung cancer will be seen within one week.

Urgent referrals should be accompanied by a phone call to the Respiratory Department and/or the relevant doctor for urgent assessment.

Availability

North

Launceston General Hospital
Level 3 - Specialist Clinics

Phone: 1300 977 694
Fax: 03 6777 5227

North West

North West Regional Hospital
Phone: 03 6493 6300
Fax: 03 6464 1928

Mersey Community Hospital
Phone: 1800 636 455 
Fax: 03 6441 5928

Smoking Cessation (nursing service)
Burnie Community Health
11 Jones Street, Burnie
Phone: 03 6477 7350
and
Mersey Community Hospital
Phone: 03 6478 5251 or 03 6478 5222
Fax: 03 6441 5928

South

Respiratory Clinic including urgent referrals (please mark as urgent)
Phone: 03 6166 0000
Fax: 03 6234 3982

Respiratory Lung Function Testing (technician)
Phone: 03 6166 0042 
Fax: 03 6234 3982

Cystic Fibrosis (CF)
Phone the CF coordinator via the switchboard on 03 6166 8308

Possible TB (please mark Attention Dr David Stock)
Phone: 03 6166 8438
Fax: 03 6173 0462

Locations:

• Wellington Clinics (Level 10)
• Telstra Building (Level 5 - Cystic Fibrosis Clinic)
• Clarence Integrated Health Centre