Author: Leslie Toldo
Major advances in lung cancer detection are helping catch lung cancers at earlier stages, improving the odds of surviving the leading cause of cancer death.
“It is so deadly because it spreads,” said Dr. John Kuhn, McLaren Flint cardiothoracic surgeon. “Lung cancer typically goes undetected until it is in a late stage because there are seldom signs of cancer early on when it is curable.”
It starts with a simple scan.
Computed tomography (CT) scans are not new. During this computerized x-ray imaging procedure, a narrow beam of x-rays is aimed at a patient and rotated around the body, generating cross-sectional images. The technology has been used for cancer detection and staging for a long time, but the US Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) only started recommending CT for lung cancer screening in 2013. The scans are a game-changer.
“This is one of the most cost-effective and potentially life-prolonging tests one can have done,” Dr. Kuhn said.
The USPSTF’s latest recommendations were updated in 2021. The guidelines call for annual CT scans for people aged 55 to 80, with a minimum 20-year pack history of smoking. That means smoking at least a pack a day for 20 years. The screening is also recommended for former smokers who have quit within the last 15 years.
“It simply means lives saved,” Dr. Kuhn said.
New robotic procedure means even more lives saved.
Now, McLaren Flint has a new tool that is expected to save countless more lives. The Ion Robotic Bronchoscopy, a minimally invasive procedure, allows pulmonologists to biopsy much smaller lung nodules, which means catching the cancer at a much earlier stage.
“As a pulmonologist who has been performing advanced bronchoscopy for over 12 years and gone through multiple advances in technology, I am very excited by the robotic Ion technology,” said McLaren Flint Pulmonologist Dr. John Youssef, “Ion is the pinnacle in advancement for sampling smaller, hard to reach lung nodules.”
Not only does Ion help doctors detect smaller, more difficult to reach cancers, but the new technology has other benefits for patients versus a traditional transthoracic needle lung biopsy procedure:
- Patients receive a general anesthetic, rather than being awake for the procedure.
- Ion has 90 percent accuracy, versus 70 percent with traditional lung biopsies.
- There is only a one percent chance of complications with Ion, versus 20 percent with transthoracic needle biopsy.
The Ion robot-assisted technology integrates with McLaren Flint’s advanced imaging capabilities to create a 3D model of the patient’s lungs. This gives doctors a view of previously unreachable nodules in the peripheral tissue, where 70 percent of lung cancers originate. The pulmonologist guides Ion’s catheter to the nodule for biopsy. While Ion is new to McLaren this year, Dr. Youssef and his colleagues are already seeing the procedure's benefits.
“Since implementing robotic Ion bronchoscopy, we have had impressive success in diagnosing cancer in small 8 to 10 mm lung nodules,” Dr. Youssef said. “Our patients have a significant advantage in being diagnosed with lung cancer at an early stage. This has impacted their treatment options and improved their lifestyle and quality of life.”
While neither the annual CT scans nor the Ion technology have the power to prevent lung cancer, these important advancements are helping improve the odds of survival for millions of patients.
“Early diagnosis of lung cancer is the ultimate goal of our patient care. This prolongs lives and improves quality of care. This will hopefully improve future lung cancer mortality,” said Dr. Youssef.
Stopping Lung Cancer Before It Starts
The American Cancer Society estimates more than 234 thousand Americans will find out they have lung cancer in 2024. A staggering 125 thousand will die from the disease. Sadly, up to 90 percent of lung cancers are preventable. Smoking tobacco is the number one risk factor for lung cancer, followed by second-hand smoke, or exposure to someone else’s tobacco smoke. The most important things you can do to lower your risk are to stop smoking and avoid exposure to tobacco smoke.
If you are a current or former smoker, talk with your doctor about screening. To learn more about lung cancer screening, visit mclaren.org/flintlungscreening. To schedule an appointment with one of our pulmonologists, visit mclaren.org/main/mclaren-flint-pulmonary.