Lung Cancer Surgery: What We Do, Why We Do It, and What If We Did It Differently?

Most textbooks of thoracic surgery follow a standard format. They are usually based around a rigid structure of pathological entities and surgical techniques. Most of that information is now available online and is continuously updated with contemporary research. So, probably some of the most important learning experiences are had in conversations with senior colleagues in informal environments, i.e. coffee lounges between cases or in bars and restaurants at national or international meetings in small groups where burning questions can be aired without fear of embarrassment. This book hopes to mimic those opportunities. In a series of dialogues, between an imaginary trainer and trainee, broader topics relating to the practice of lung cancer surgery are openly discussed. The reader, whether still in training or an established specialist in whatever branch of lung cancer treatment, will be taken through the conversations into areas of controversy or basic thoracic surgical philosophy not commonly addressed as individual topics. Hopefully, they may not agree with all the opinions (which are intentionally forthright) but will find it an interesting chance to take a step back, look at their practice and think “could I do that differently?” or “I have never thought about it like that before”.