For Patients and Visitors
What is the Service?
The Lung Mass Clinic is an adult outpatient service dedicated to the urgent assessment and management of patients with suspicious lung nodules or masses. Lung nodules or masses may be malignant or benign.
The Lung Mass Clinic is attended by respiratory physicians, thoracic surgeons, medical oncologists and a lung mass nurse co-ordinator. The clinic also has access to radiation oncologists.
The Lung Mass Clinic is conducted every week on a Thursday morning and co-ordinated by the Department of Respiratory Medicine.
What can I expect from the service?
Patients referred to the Lung Mass Clinic can expect:
- Telephone contact from the Lung Mass Nurse Coordinator confirming receipt of your referral
- Telephone contact from the Lung Mass Nurse Coordinator advising of any additional tests that need to be conducted prior to your appointment with the respiratory physician, which will be within 2 weeks of receiving the referral
- Clinic visit with respiratory physicians, thoracic surgeons, medical and radiation oncologists as required
- Continued support from the Lung Mass Nurse Coordinator throughout your journey
- Multidisciplinary care from diagnosis through to the completion of the treatment program
- Regular letters to your GP
- Dedicated interpreter service
What do I bring/need for my appointment?
To your first appointment bring:
- A list of current medications
- Blood test results
- CT scans
- GP contact details, including address and phone number.
Contact us
To enquire about your referral:
Please contact Lung Mass Nurse Coordinator, Pieta Roberts:
Mobile 0428 630 825 Email: Pieta.Roberts@nh.org.au
or
Phone the Respiratory Department Office on 8405 2444
For Health Professionals
Service Overview
The Lung Mass Clinic is an adult outpatient service dedicated to the urgent assessment and management of patients with lung nodules/masses. This service is co-ordinated by the Department of Respiratory Medicine.
Once a referral is received, it will be promptly triaged. The necessary tests and investigations will be organised prior to the patient being reviewed in the clinic, which will ensure that all essential information is available to the physician on the first appointment. When the patient is linked to the clinic, they will be contacted by the lung mass co-ordinator, who will then become their first point of contact for any urgent queries.
The team at the lung mass clinic aim to streamline the referral process and provide the resources and expertise to urgently assess patients and provide support for both patients and their families. The team understands how stressful a new cancer diagnosis can be for both the patient and the family and will endeavour to provide support where possible.
All new lung cancer patients are discussed at a multidisciplinary meeting attended by respiratory physicians, thoracic surgeons, medical and radiation oncologists, and a lung mass nurse co-ordinator.
Inclusion criteria:
- Cavitating lung lesion
- Suspicious lung mass shown on CT scan
- Pulmonary nodules
- Enlarged mediastinal and/or hilar lymph nodes
- Significant unilateral pleural effusion
Exclusion criteria:
- Patients less than 18 years of age
How to Refer:
Urgent and complex referrals can be discussed with the Respiratory Registrar by calling Northern Health switchboard Tel: 8405 8000.
Acutely unwell patients should be directed to the nearest Emergency Department.
GP referrals: Use HealthLink to send referrals, including results and reports. For more information click here
Other health services (hospitals, allied health, specialists etc): Fax your referral to 8405 8616
Referrals for Lung Function Test: For more information click here
Specific enquires regarding the Lung Mass Clinic:
- Lung Mass Nurse Coordinator, Pieta Roberts – Mobile: 0428 630 825 or Email: Pieta.Roberts@nh.org.au
Referral must include:
- Patient details including address, date of birth, Medicare number and contact phone number
- Reason for referral
- Relevant clinical history for the patient including medications and any allergies
- Relevant investigation results including any pathology, CT and X-rays. All patients must have a CT prior to referral.
- GP contact and provider number details.
Director/Head of Unit:
Dr Katharine See
Enquiries:
Urgent referrals can be discussed by calling switch on 8405 8000 and requesting the Respiratory Registrar
