Jong Ho Park, MD, PhD: The Role of the Thoracic Surgeon in Lung Cancer

Jong Ho Park, MD, PhD (Korea Cancer Center Hospital) discusses the role of the thoracic surgeon in lung cancer treatment.

The Group Room at the 14th Annual World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC) was made possible, in part, by:

 

VIDEO TRANSCRIPT

Selma R. Schimmel, Founder & CEO, Vital Options International:

This is Selma Schimmel at the 14^th World Conference on Lung Cancer, WCLC, which is organized by the International Association of the Study of Lung Cancer, the IASLC, in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.  And now I’m joined by Dr. Jong Ho Park who comes to us from Seoul, South Korea.  Dr. Park is the Chairman of the Department of Thoracic Surgery, he is the Director of the Lung Cancer Center at the Korea Cancer Center Hospital in Seoul, South Korea, and you’re also the Chair of the Early Detection and Prevention Committee for IASLC, the region for Korea.  Welcome to The Group Room.

Jong Ho Park, MD, PhD, Dept. of Thoracic Surgery, Korea Cancer Center Hospital:

Thank you.

Selma R. Schimmel:

You coming from Korea really helps our viewers understand that physicians are invested in the study of lung cancer all over the world and this kind of meeting lets doctors come together from all parts of the world to talk about advances in the diagnosis and the treatment.  Now, you’re a thoracic surgeon, which means that the patient doesn’t see you first.  How does the patient come to the thoracic surgeon?  Because in lung cancer there’s a team of doctors, a multidisciplinary team- talk to us about how the patient finally gets to the thoracic surgeon.

Jong Ho Park:

As you introduce me, I am a thoracic surgeon.  Usually, the department of pulmonology or medical oncology refers the lung cancer patient to me whose status is indicated for surgery after the diagnosis of the lung cancer status.  In this process several specialists, for example, a surgeon, pulmonologist, medical oncologist, radiologist, pathologist, join to evaluate the patient.  A multidisciplinary approach is important for the good research of lung cancer diagnosis and treatment.

Selma R. Schimmel:

Dr. Park, in order to resect, in order to remove lung cancer, how small or how large can a cancer be for you to be able, hopefully, to successfully remove the tumor?

Jong Ho Park:

I think the size of the tumor is not important for removal.  The most important thing is where the tumor is in relation to the very important organs.  So, grown cancer is divided into seven stages.  And the patient who belongs to the first of fifth stages, those patients are able to take surgery and the patient is usually referred to me.

Selma R. Schimmel:

If a patient already has lung cancer that has spread to other parts of the body, will you still do surgery?

Jong Ho Park:

No, in that case, there is no advantage for taking surgery.  So in that case, I usually refer to medical oncologist or therapeutic radiologist.

Selma R. Schimmel:

So, what you’re saying, it’s a really good thing for lung cancer patients, when they’re able, to have surgery to remove the disease.

Jong Ho Park:

Ya.

Selma R. Schimmel:

In Asia, you have a large issue with cigarette smoking, which probably means that you have also a very high incidence of smoking related lung cancers.  Talk to us a bit about the differences in how people talk about lung cancer, understand lung cancer and also the approaches you, as a surgeon in dealing with lung cancer, is it different in Asia than in different parts of the world, or the US?

Jong Ho Park:

The smoking population is definitely higher than US.  So smoking, the specific type of lung cancer is mainly squamous cell carcinoma.  In US, the most popular cancer is adenocarcinoma.  Several years ago, I hear the most popular lung cancer was carcinoma, but nowadays the most popular lung cancer in Asia is also adenocarcinoma.  I think, to cure or to diagnose or to cure lung cancer is very important, but prevention of lung cancer is very important.  And one other thing is, tobacco control is very important I think, and for that, education for the public is very important.

Selma R. Schimmel:

Does the public in your country understand the association and the dangers of smoking and lung cancer?

Jong Ho Park:

Absolutely.

Selma R. Schimmel:

And is there a different perception- culture, what role does culture play with this disease?

Jong Ho Park:

It’s very difficult to say about the culture difference of lung cancer.  Most definitely proven evidence is just smoking, so lung cancer instances are very parallel with the smoking populations.

Selma R. Schimmel:

Dr. Park, how does membership in IASLC benefit thoracic surgeons, especially in Asia?

Jong Ho Park:

I guess, there are lots of benefits through IASLC membership.  In terms of new diagnosis, new therapy method and new research, prompt information is changing and joint research is necessary, I think.  I think it is possible, by using teleconference or email discussion through IASLC memberships.  I think there are lots of benefits through IASLC membership.

Selma R. Schimmel:

Dr. Park, thank you very much for helping us understand the role of the thoracic surgeon, the multidisciplinary team, of how all these doctors come together in partnership to help that patient diagnosed with lung cancer.  Dr. Jong Ho Park: Chairman of the Department of Thoracic Surgery, the Director of the Lung Cancer Center at the Korea Cancer Center Hospital in Seoul, South Korea.  You are also the Chair of the Early Detection and Prevention Committee of IASLC, the region for Korea.  Thank you so much.

Jong Ho Park:

Thank you.

END OF VIDEO