What You Need to Know About Lifesaving Lung Cancer Screening Lung cancer is a silent killer. In its early stages, it has no symptoms and can spread without warning. That’s why lung cancer screening for people who are high-risk is so important: They often feel perfectly healthy. “Often, people don’t develop symptoms until the disease has either spread or grown too large to cure,” notes Dr. Darren I. Rohan, Westchester Regional Director of the Thoracic Surgery Program at Northern Westchester Hospital (NWH). “That’s why it’s critical that those at high-risk are screened.” Anyone who currently smokes or has a long history of smoking may be considered highrisk, and should speak with their doctor about the need to be screened. “If you’re between the ages of 55 and 77 and have smoked a pack of cigarettes a day for thirty years and are still smoking, or have quit within the last fifteen years, you’re considered high-risk – even if you feel fine,” Dr. Rohan says. “Also, be sure to speak to your doctor if you have more advanced symptoms, like a chronic cough, pneumonia, bloody sputum, unexplained weight loss, or chest pain.” Although lung cancer kills more people in the United States than does any other cancer, screening saves lives. Research shows that if a person’s lung cancer is detected at an earlier stage, their five-year survival rate can increase from four percent to fifty-five percent, according to the American Lung Association. Patients are screened with a noninvasive lowdose CT scan, which only takes a minute. Says Dr. Rohan, “It’s a very sensitive test for diagnosing lung cancer. If we see something that’s concerning, we’ll do a needle biopsy or a bronchoscopy, which
is done by inserting a thin tube down the throat and into the lungs. If it’s cancer, we’ll do a positron emission tomography, or PET scan, to determine whether it’s in an early stage or if it’s a more advanced cancer.”
Darren I. Rohan, MD
Westchester Regional Director Thoracic Surgery Program Northwell Health
If the cancer is in the early stages, the most advanced treatment option is minimally invasive robotic surgery. “The da Vinci robot enables me to move surgical instruments more precisely, protecting
the surrounding healthy tissue. In addition, I’m able to make tiny incisions, so there’s less bleeding and pain for the patient. Recovery from robotic surgery takes two to three weeks, compared with six to eight weeks with traditional open surgery.” NWH also offers advanced ablation techniques, which use image guidance to insert a needle through the skin into the tumor. Other options include burning or freezing the tumor; or stereotactic radiosurgery, which uses radiation without an incision. “Treatment depends on the patient – what he or she feels most comfortable with. Some patients have advanced lung disease, very bad emphysema, or heart disease, and surgery is too risky.” If the patient is too high-risk, the cancer is too advanced or the patient doesn’t want surgery, an option is immunotherapy, a newer treatment. “Immunotherapy is a targeted treatment that revs up the immune system so it’s better able to fight the cancer,” explains Dr. Rohan. It’s been remarkably effective. I have patients who are in complete remission. It’s a wonderful advancement in the treatment of lung cancer.”
Immunotherapy isn’t the only way that NWH is advancing its cancer care. “We have top-rated cancer specialists, state-of-the-art technology, leading-edge clinical trials and a full range of support programs. Our patients also have access to the leading minds in cancer across the entire Northwell Health System. Patients who want the most advanced cancer care don’t need to travel to New York City.”
Are non-smokers or marijuana smokers at risk? “Even if you smoked a little, you’re at a higher risk than those who never smoked at all.” Additionally, while researchers still don’t know the precise risks for long-term marijuana smokers, Dr. Rohan points out that the habit must be taken into
consideration. “We do know the risk of lung cancer is elevated. Any type of inhalation is not a good thing.” Similarly, Dr. Rohan suspects vaping will also elevate risk, but says that researchers don’t yet have the long-term data to pinpoint by how much. Of course, even lifetime non-smokers sometimes get lung cancer. Exposure to second-hand smoke, asbestos, or a family history of lung cancer can all increase risk. For the safest approach, speak to your doctor about any of the above risk factors. If your physician recommends a lung cancer screening, don’t delay.
Find out if lung cancer screening is right for you, call 1 (833) 586-4727.
FREE Smoking Cessation Program at NWH We work with you until you succeed. Together, we create an individualized plan to help you quit smoking/vaping once and for all. This effective program includes weekly group meetings; proven strategies for behavior modification; nicotine replacement therapies as needed; plus caring one-on-one support. No matter how long you’ve smoked, no matter how many times you’ve quit and started again, no matter the stresses in your life, our stateof-the-art program can set you free from nicotine’s hold. Many participants are cigarette-free for years. What’s more, you continue benefiting from the program’s support as long as you need it, even for years. Call now. The sooner you quit, the greater your body’s ability to heal. You can do it. And it’s FREE. Quit smoking today. Call (914) 666-1868 to register for our Smoking Cessation Program.
