Each year, lung cancer claims more lives in the U.S. than any other form of cancer. Compounding the problem locally is the fact that lung cancer frequently isn’t detected until later stages when tumors have grown and the cancer has spread.
“In East Tennessee, we have one of the lowest early detection rates for lung cancer,” says Varun Shah, MD. “It is a very, very big problem that we are trying to get ahead of here in Knoxville.”
As director of the lung nodule program at Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center and the director of Interventional Pulmonology at StatCare, Dr. Shah has witnessed firsthand the damaging effects of lung cancer.
“Lung cancer screening is very, very important, starting with a low-dose CT scan,” Dr. Shah says. “If you meet the criteria, I would strongly recommend that you go to your primary care doctor and ask about it.”
A low-dose CT scan is a diagnostic screening tool for lung cancer that uses lower amounts of radiation than standard chest CT imaging. It provides detailed images of the chest and lungs, making it easier to detect cancer at its earliest stages.
Low-dose CT scans are recommended for individuals who are between the ages of 50 and 80 who have smoked one pack of cigarettes a day for 20 years or more, or who have just quit smoking within the past 15 years. Those who have experienced lung disease, have a family history of lung cancer, or have been exposed to substances known to cause lung cancer (such as asbestos, arsenic and beryllium) are also encouraged to undergo a CT scan.
“We’re trying to get ahead of this problem,” Dr. Shah says, “and save lives by catching these cancers before they become incurable.”
Dr. Shah and his colleagues at Fort Sanders Regional have performed a combined total of nearly 500 robotic bronchoscopy procedures in less than two years’ time. Fort Sanders Regional was the first medical center in East Tennessee to use robotic bronchoscopy to diagnose and treat lung cancer.
Robotic bronchoscopy comes into play after a patient has been diagnosed with a lung nodule or a lung mass that needs to be tested (biopsied) for the presence of cancer. With this innovative technology, Dr. Shah can use a controller for the precision movement of a tiny camera that is attached to a flexible bronchoscopy tube through the lung.
The tube is smaller than what’s typically used for traditional bronchoscopy. This means Dr. Shah has better access to the most difficult-to-reach areas of the lung.
Meanwhile on a computer screen nearby, Dr. Shah can see a 3-D video map of the patient’s lung, showing the location of the tube and where it needs to go to capture a sample of nodules for biopsy.
There can be a certain fear of the unknown when it comes to cancer screenings. But catching cancer early before it’s had a chance to fully grow and spread means getting a head start on treatment.
Fighting cancer when it’s in the earliest stages is the most effective way to preserve quality of life and even save a life. That’s why the technology at Fort Sanders Regional is considered so important in the diagnosis of lung cancer.
“We have had tremendous success in getting to those lung cancers, and with surgery or with radiation we can give these patients the best possible shot at curing it and stopping it right in its tracks,” Dr. Shah says. “We remain committed to catching lung cancer early, curing it, and beating it altogether.”
Lung cancer screenings begin with a physician referral and are often covered by insurance.
