Laser surgery at Ohio State is helping cancer patients breathe easier when their conditions affect their windpipes. Through interventional pulmonology — a new and rapidly growing subspecialty — doctors use minimally-invasive tools to diagnose and treat many types of cancer that involve patients’ chests. Among the benefits of interventional pulmonology is the ability to remove tumors that invade the lungs, helping to stop or lessen bleeding and improve breathing. “The most important benefit to the patient is a significantly improved quality of life, says Harsh Shah, MD. “For example, I've had a number of patients that wake up on the table crying because they can finally breathe.”