Lung Cancer Advances

CATHY JENKINS RN III, BSN, CCRP, Lung, Head & Neck Nurse Navigator

Lung cancer is one of the leading causes of death among men and women in the United States. More people die annually of lung cancer than of colon, breast, and prostate cancers combined. The American Cancer Society estimates there will be about 228,820 new cases of lung cancer and 135,720 lung cancer deaths in the U.S. in 2020.

Symptoms of lung cancer typically do not appear until the disease is already in an advanced stage. Early detection leads to better treatment results. People between the ages of 55 and 77 years old, who currently smoke, have smoked in the past 15 years, or smoked a pack of cigarettes for at least 30 years, should discuss a lung cancer screening with their doctor. The screening uses a low dose spiral CT scan to detect lung cancer at an early stage.

The NFL has provided funds for the American Cancer Society to increase lung cancer screening awareness and tobacco cessation activities. Pardee is one of two community health-screening partners for the American Cancer Society NFL Change Grant Lung Cancer Screening. In collaboration of with Blue Ridge Health Center, grant monies will provide lung cancer screening and smoking cessation resources for uninsured patients, who are at high risk for lung cancer.

In addition to offering low dose lung cancer screenings, Pardee’s pulmonary nodule program reviews incidental pulmonary nodules identified on CT scans. Most pulmonary nodules are not cancerous but are the result of old infections, scar tissue, or other causes. Primary care physicians receive recommendations for pulmonary nodules requiring close monitoring. Radiologic surveillance can lead to early diagnosis of lung cancer.

The complexities of the health care system can be overwhelming for the newly diagnosed lung cancer patient. As a nurse navigator, I provide education and resources to facilitate informed decision making and timely access to quality health and psychosocial care throughout all phases of the cancer continuum. Serving as a point of contact for patients and their families, the nurse navigator provides patient centered care to ensure a sense of hope, healing and security. 

Pharmacy Technology

ROBYN BRYSON

The oncology infusion pharmacy at Pardee Cancer Center implemented a new computer software program, BD IV Prep™, in the fall of 2019 with the assistance of Kenmure Fights Cancer. This software allowed for the sterile compounding of the chemotherapy/immunotherapy medications to be done based on gravimetric weight (density) instead of based on syringe volume. Using gravimetric weight of the medication allows for precise doses being dispensed to the patient to lessen the potential for under- or overdosing. Another benefit with this software is the ability to identify the medications and solutions using bar code scanning.

The software program moves the pharmacy technician through each step in compounding the medication using bar code scanning, weight, and pictures of the product. A patient-specific label is generated that allows the pharmacist to perform the final verification using the pictures obtained at each step of compounding. 