Lung Cancer Care in Orange County
City of Hope’s Lung Cancer and Thoracic Oncology Program is achieving superior outcomes for Orange County by bringing together the best and brightest clinicians and medical researchers who possess vision, integrity, compassion and a state-of-the-art skill set. It is our multidisciplinary approach, combined with our dedication to advancing cancer care, that results in our superior survival outcomes, making City of Hope the best choice for lung cancer treatment.
Why Choose City of Hope Orange County for Lung Cancer Care?
At City of Hope, we recognize that each patient, tumor and immune system is unique. With this understanding, we determine a personalized course of treatment that will produce the best outcome. From screening to treating to advancing research discoveries into therapies, City of Hope is committed to providing patients with the best chance for survival.
Often, other physicians or hospitals deem these lung cancers untreatable. Not us. Our specialists never give up, working to find unique therapies and groundbreaking solutions.
Rooted in more than a century of expert caregiving, our support programs help you and your family weather the mental, social, and emotional challenges unique to lung cancer. You are never alone.
Our cancer care teams run on attention to detail — listening to you and your family’s feelings and concerns and addressing them graciously.
Overcome withdrawal symptoms, triggers, and cravings through medication, behavioral strategies, strategic problem solving and social support.
We Specialize in State-of-the-Art Treatments for Lung Cancer
Our advanced lung cancer treatments include:
- Minimally invasive techniques – including laparoscopic and robotic surgery that make recovery faster and improve outcomes
- Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery – uses advanced computer and video technology to perform minimally invasive biopsies and surgeries
- Interventional pulmonology – the most advanced diagnostic and therapeutic interventions available, including rigid bronchoscopy, medical thoracoscopy and robot-assisted bronchoscopy
- Genetic tests to determine specific tumor biology and tailor your treatments to stop it from growing
- Ultraprecise radiation therapy techniques including helical TomoTherapy and 4D computed tomography scanning
Smoking cigarettes causes between 80 to 90 percent of lung cancer deaths in men and women, yet consistent exposure to secondhand smoke increases lung cancer risk by 20 to 30 percent.
With leading-edge technology and surgical expertise. City of Hope physicians can deliver outstanding outcomes that are difficult to achieve elsewhere. Available treatments include minimally invasive techniques and video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery.
Getting lung cancer is frightening and devastating. Getting through it and figuring out how to live a long life takes layers of support. When you come to City of Hope, you gain access to a strong support network, including caring staff to help you and your family at every step in your journey.
Clinical trial participation is a critical aspect of care for many patients living with cancer. Our patients can access more than 1,000 innovative Phase 1–3 clinical trials at City of Hope each year — more cancer-focused clinical trials than anywhere in the area — to provide promising new treatments long before they become the standard of care.

A trailblazing integrative medicine program combining the best of Western medicine and evidence-based complementary therapies, such as acupuncture, massage and meditation.
City of Hope is a national leader in evidence-based supportive care. The Sheri & Les Biller Patient and Family Resource Center at the Lennar Foundation Cancer Center will facilitate easy access to a wide range of programs, including care navigation, survivorship programs, psychological and spiritual counseling, pain management and more.
Marybelle's is a full-service salon extending a specialty shopping experience with oncology-trained cosmetologists.
The on-site pharmacy fills and dispenses prescriptions and offers over-the-counter medications, alleviating the burden of going elsewhere.
City of Hope Lung & Thoracic Cancer Doctors
With leading-edge technology and surgical expertise, City of Hope cancer specialists can deliver outstanding outcomes that are difficult to achieve elsewhere.
Lung & Thoracic Oncology Leadership


Nishan Tchekmedyian, M .D., has been recognized by Greater Newport Physicians, a group that named him New Physician of the Year in 2017 and Specialist of the Year in 2019, 2020 and 2021 for his high-quality, patient-focused care.


Medical oncologist Jyoti Malhotra, M.D., M.P.H., centers her philosophy of care on learning as much as possible about each patient — what is important to them, the challenges they face, and the therapeutic approach they want to take — as well as the details of their disease.
Medical Oncology


Danny Nguyen, M.D., believes that the start of great cancer care involves the patient. Answering their important questions fully is one of his favorite challenges in his work. He also believes that collaborating closely with other physicians is important for forming the best team for each patient.


Tingting Tan, M.D., Ph.D., is internationally renowned for studying the molecular signaling pathways in tumor development and the mechanisms of chemotherapy resistance. She is board certified in medical oncology, hematology, and internal medicine.


Personal experience inspired Lihong Wu, M.D., to pursue her career as a physician. The daughter of a doctor, she would shadow her father at work and be amazed at the care he provided. When she was 8 years old, Dr. Wu lost her grandfather to liver cancer.
Radiation Oncology


For radiation oncologist Percy Lee, M.D., patients’ needs come first. He works closely with experts from other disciplines to offer each person an individually tailored treatment plan based upon both their clinical history and their emotional and social needs. An active listener, he aims to understand what is truly on a patient’s mind.
Interventional Radiology


For Jason Salsamendi, M.D., patient care is a partnership where his role is to help people make informed decisions that best meet their needs. He followed his passion into interventional radiology in the field’s early days, when he was in medical school, after seeing the way doctors could seamlessly and artfully bring together leading-edge technology and established aspects of medical care.
Supportive Care


Richard T. Lee, M.D., is a third-generation physician who was inspired by seeing the positive impact that good health care can have on a community. His philosophy as an oncologist is all about treating the whole patient — centering care on who they are and what they need.


Jessica Cheng, M.D., is among the nation’s few, and Orange County’s only, fellowship-trained experts in cancer rehabilitation medicine. This is a subspecialty of physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R) also known as physiatry. From the time of diagnosis, a wide range of physical, cognitive and emotional challenges may arise throughout the cancer journey.