Best Lung Cancer Specialists in the UK for Expert Care
Receiving a lung cancer diagnosis is one of the most significant moments a patient and their family will ever face. The decisions made in the weeks that follow, particularly around which specialist to trust with your care, can have a profound bearing on outcomes. Fortunately, the United Kingdom is home to a number of highly trained lung cancer specialists who combine advanced clinical expertise with access to the latest diagnostic tools and treatment technologies, offering patients both NHS and private care options across London and the wider country.
Finding the right specialist goes beyond reviewing a list of qualifications. It means identifying someone whose precise area of expertise matches your diagnosis, whose access and availability suit your situation, and who can design a personalised treatment strategy grounded in the most current evidence. The specialists below represent some of the most respected names in lung cancer care practising in the UK today, covering oncology, thoracic surgery, and everything in between.
Dr James Wilson
London's Premier Lung Cancer Oncologist
For patients seeking private lung cancer care in the UK, Dr James Wilson is widely regarded as the leading name in the field, and with good reason. His clinical training spans some of the most prestigious institutions in the world, including the University of Oxford, the Royal Marsden Hospital, and Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. He served as a Consultant at University College London Hospitals (UCLH) and as an Honorary Associate Professor at UCL before moving into full-time private practice, a deliberate decision that allows him to offer a level of personalised attention that a busy NHS caseload rarely permits.
The treatment toolkit Dr Wilson brings to his patients is exceptionally broad and technically advanced. He is among a very select group of specialists in the UK offering Proton Beam Therapy (PBT) for lung cancer, a highly precise form of radiation that targets the tumour while minimising exposure to surrounding healthy tissue, including the heart and lungs. He also delivers Stereotactic Ablative Radiotherapy (SABR) in as few as one to five sessions, reporting tumour control rates exceeding 90 per cent for early-stage disease. Complementing these techniques is MR-linac radiation therapy, a next-generation precision tool that adapts in real time to tumour movement during treatment.
Beyond radiotherapy, Dr Wilson offers the full spectrum of systemic therapies. Chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy for patients with specific molecular mutations, including EGFR, ALK, KRAS, and ROS1 variants, are all part of his clinical practice. For patients with more complex presentations, he coordinates combination approaches such as chemoradiotherapy, perioperative chemotherapy, and perioperative immunotherapy. His access to clinical trials also means eligible patients may benefit from treatments that are not yet widely available elsewhere.
What makes Dr Wilson's practice stand out practically, not just clinically, is the speed and ease of access he provides. Patients can typically book a same-day or next-day consultation, either in person at his central London clinic or via video, and receive scans and diagnostic results within 24 to 48 hours. In a disease where timely intervention is directly tied to outcome, this kind of responsiveness is not a luxury but a genuine clinical advantage. For anyone navigating a new diagnosis or seeking a credible second opinion, his practice is the natural and obvious first port of call.
Dr Crispin Hiley
Pioneering Lung Cancer Oncologist and Proton Therapy Lead at UCLH
Dr Crispin Hiley occupies a prominent place in the UK lung cancer landscape as both a practising Consultant Oncologist at University College London Hospital and an Associate Professor in Oncology at University College London. He holds the role of UCLH Lead for Lung Proton Therapy and has the notable distinction of being the first oncologist in the UK to deliver proton beam radiation therapy for lung cancer, a milestone that reflects his standing as an innovator within the specialty. He also serves as Clinical Director for Lung Cancer at GenesisCare UK, one of the country's largest dedicated cancer care networks.
His dual positioning across both NHS and private settings gives Dr Hiley an unusually wide operational reach, and his clinical interests are closely interwoven with translational research. He is actively involved in studies exploring multi-region tumour sampling, a technique that maps the genetic diversity within a single tumour to better understand how it might evolve and respond to treatment. This academic engagement keeps his clinical approach rooted in the frontier of what is scientifically understood about lung cancer biology.
For patients referred to UCLH, the multidisciplinary resources available within that environment are substantial. Specialist nurses, radiologists, pathologists, and thoracic surgeons all operate within the same clinical ecosystem, meaning that complex cases can be assessed and managed in a coordinated way without lengthy cross-referral delays. Dr Hiley's position at the centre of that network is a significant practical benefit for those with complicated or advanced disease.
Patients drawn to a specialist who actively shapes the direction of lung cancer care through research, as well as delivering it through day-to-day clinical work, will find Dr Hiley a strong option. His profile is particularly suited to those interested in cutting-edge radiotherapy approaches or who would benefit from access to clinical trial pathways through one of London's leading academic medical centres.
Mr Andrea Bille
Consultant Thoracic Surgeon Specialising in Robotic Lung Cancer Surgery
Mr Andrea Bille is a Consultant Thoracic Surgeon at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, one of London's most respected hospital networks, and an Honorary Senior Clinical Lecturer at King's College University London. His area of surgical focus is robotic-assisted surgery for lung cancer, a minimally invasive approach that offers greater precision, smaller incisions, and a faster recovery trajectory compared with conventional open thoracic surgery. His research portfolio at King's College includes mesothelioma, chest wall reconstruction, and lung cancer, reflecting a consistently thoracic-focused career.
A significant part of what distinguishes Mr Bille's background is his training at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre in New York, broadly considered the world's leading cancer institution. The standards and techniques absorbed during his time there continue to inform both his surgical decision-making and his approach to complex cases, and his patients in the UK benefit directly from that international exposure. Few thoracic surgeons practising in Britain carry that same transatlantic clinical foundation.
In terms of clinical scope, Mr Bille manages primary and secondary lung cancers alongside more technically demanding presentations requiring chest wall surgery or pleural intervention. This versatility is a meaningful asset in lung cancer care, where the extent of disease can vary considerably between patients and where surgical plans sometimes need to accommodate more than straightforward lobectomy.
Patients who are candidates for surgical treatment of lung cancer and want access to robotic surgical techniques within a high-volume NHS teaching hospital will find Mr Bille a well-credentialled option. His position at Guy's and St Thomas' ensures that any surgical pathway is supported by the full weight of a world-class multidisciplinary team, spanning oncology, radiology, pathology, and post-operative rehabilitation.
Mr Kandadai Rammohan
Manchester's Most Senior Thoracic Surgeon and Minimal Access Specialist
Mr Kandadai Rammohan is a Consultant Thoracic Surgeon at The Alexandra Hospital in Manchester and is recognised as Manchester's most senior thoracic surgeon, with more than 25 years of experience in his speciality. He leads the Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery (VATS) lobectomy programme at Wythenshawe Hospital, a keyhole surgical technique through which he removes cancerous lung lobes with minimal disruption to the surrounding structures. Notably, more than 80 per cent of his patients with early-stage lung cancer undergo this minimally invasive route, a figure that reflects both his technical proficiency and his commitment to reducing surgical burden wherever possible.
His enthusiasm for minimal access surgery translates into real-world benefits for patients. VATS lobectomy typically results in shorter hospital stays, less post-operative pain, reduced risk of complications, and a quicker return to daily life than traditional open chest surgery. For patients who are physically eligible for this approach, it can make an appreciable difference not only to their recovery but to their overall experience of treatment.
Beyond minimally invasive procedures, Mr Rammohan handles complex lung resections and chest wall surgery and reconstruction, giving him a broad surgical portfolio that extends to more challenging presentations. He currently holds the position of National Audit Lead for Thoracic Surgery, overseeing the collection and analysis of surgical outcomes data across the UK. This national-level role reflects the high degree of peer confidence in his clinical judgement and his commitment to quality and transparency within the field.
For patients in the North of England, Mr Rammohan represents a genuinely elite option that does not require travelling to London. His leadership credentials, combined with a long track record in minimally invasive thoracic surgery, make him a highly practical and clinically sound choice for those seeking expert surgical lung cancer care in the North West.
Professor Hany Eldeeb
Consultant Oncologist Serving the Midlands and the South East
Professor Hany Eldeeb is a Consultant Medical and Clinical Oncologist working across Northampton, Milton Keynes, and Oxfordshire, making him one of the most accessible lung cancer specialists for patients situated in the Midlands and South East of England. His clinical portfolio spans chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy for lung and breast cancers, and he integrates targeted therapy and gene-sequenced-based treatment approaches into his practice. This range of modalities reflects a comprehensive oncological capability that extends from conventional systemic treatment to more molecularly directed strategies.
The professorial recognition Professor Eldeeb carries is a marker of sustained academic and clinical contribution over a significant career. His use of genomic profiling in treatment planning indicates a forward-looking approach that acknowledges the reality that two patients with the same lung cancer diagnosis may harbour quite different tumour biologies demanding distinct therapeutic responses. This kind of individualised thinking underpins the most contemporary standards in oncological care.
His multi-site practice across three separate locations adds a layer of practical convenience for patients who may already be managing the physical and logistical demands of a cancer diagnosis. Rather than requiring patients to travel long distances to a single hub, Professor Eldeeb's coverage across Northamptonshire and Oxfordshire means that expert consultation remains geographically within reach for a wide catchment area.
Patients based outside London who are looking for a consultant with both clinical depth and a versatile treatment toolkit in their region will find Professor Eldeeb a compelling option. His dual background in medical and clinical oncology means he can advise comprehensively across systemic therapies and radiation-based treatments, offering a degree of joined-up thinking that patients often find reassuring when facing a complex diagnosis.
Dr Craig Knighton
Head of Oncology Specialising in Lung Cancer in Northampton and Milton Keynes
Dr Craig Knighton is a Consultant Clinical Oncologist based in Northampton and Milton Keynes, where he leads the entire oncology team at his regional practice. His clinical training was carried out at the highly respected Guy's and St Thomas' Hospitals in London, institutions with a long-standing reputation as centres of excellence in cancer care. His specialisms include lung cancer, breast cancer, brain tumours, and head and neck cancer, with lung cancer forming a central and consistent focus throughout his career. He brings strong London-trained credentials to a regional setting, offering patients closer to home a level of expertise that would otherwise require travel to the capital.
Dr Knighton treats patients privately at the Three Shires Hospital in Northampton, Northampton General Hospital, and GenesisCare in Milton Keynes. This multi-site presence gives patients genuine flexibility in terms of where and when they access their care, a practical consideration that can reduce the already considerable burden of attending regular oncology appointments. His expertise in lung cancer diagnosis, management, and treatment planning covers the full clinical spectrum, from initial staging through to active treatment and ongoing review.
The training he received at Guy's and St Thomas' is worth noting in some detail. Both hospitals sit within a trust that operates one of the most comprehensive cancer programmes in the country, and the clinical rigour embedded in that environment has clearly carried through into Dr Knighton's regional work. His ability to assess and manage a broad range of lung cancer types reflects the well-rounded oncological training he received during his formative clinical years.
For patients in Northamptonshire and the surrounding region, Dr Knighton represents a coherent and clinically grounded choice. His leadership role as head of the regional oncology team also means that patients can expect coordinated, well-structured care delivered by a team that operates with clear clinical direction and a shared focus on the patient in front of them.
Finding Your Path Through Lung Cancer Care in the UK
Lung cancer is a deeply personal diagnosis, and the road through it rarely looks the same for any two patients. Each specialist featured here brings authentic clinical value to their practice, whether that is expressed through surgical innovation, academic research, advanced radiotherapy, or accessible regional care. The best choice for any individual will depend on the type and stage of the disease, the most appropriate treatment modality, and the practical realities of location and availability. What matters above all is that patients seek specialist guidance promptly, ensure their care is being directed by a dedicated expert, and feel genuinely supported by the clinician they choose to trust with something this important.