Catching Lung Cancer Early

Inside the Advanced Thoracic Oncology Center

A cough that won’t go away, or one that produces a little blood, can be caused by variety of conditions, most often a type of viral infection. You shouldn’t panic if you experience these symptoms, but you also shouldn’t dismiss them. They could be signs of lung cancer.

Unfortunately, lung cancer symptoms often don’t appear until the disease has already advanced, which makes it more difficult to treat. Lung cancer is currently the leading cause of cancer death in the United States, with more than 125,000 Americans succumbing to the disease last year.

But with screening programs and advances in technology—and occasionally, through a lucky twist of fate—physicians have been able to detect lung cancer earlier, confirm the diagnosis and begin individualized treatment that can significantly improve the prognosis for certain patients.

“We have the ability to travel further into the lungs than ever before,” says M. Douglas Mullins, MD, a pulmonologist with Southeast Lung Associates and medical director of the Advanced Thoracic Oncology Center at the Nancy N. and J.C. Lewis Cancer & Research Pavilion. “The kind of detail we can see now enables us to identify small tumors when they are most treatable.”

Lung Cancer Screening

Even people who are heavy smokers may not experience lung cancer symptoms in the early stages of the disease. That’s why lung screening programs such as the one offered by St. Joseph’s/Candler is critical for certain patients.

“We strongly encourage screening,” Dr. Mullins says. “If you are a current smoker—or even if you are a former smoker who feels fairly healthy—it’s a good idea to talk to your doctor about whether you are a good candidate for the program.”

Through a CT scan of the lungs, radiologists can detect nodules that may be cancerous. If any hard-to-reach nodules are discovered, Dr. Mullins will use the Monarch Platform, a technology that integrates robotics and advanced visualization with endoscopy, to perform a bronchoscopy.

“I guide the scope with an interface that gives me tremendous control,” Dr. Mullins says. “The precision of the Monarch gives me not just confidence in a positive diagnosis but also confidence in a negative or alternative diagnosis, and it saves the patient from additional procedures such as a CT biopsy.”

Once the diagnosis is confirmed, Dr. Mullins begins planning treatment in collaboration with multiple specialists in the Advanced Thoracic Oncology Center, including cardiothoracic surgeon Marc Bailey, MD, FACS.

“We have an established team with deep and wide experience in the region,” Dr. Mullins says. “And we discuss as a team what the best approach is and what the possibilities are in treating a patient.”

An Incidental Finding

Another way that patients come to Dr. Mullins is through a discovery of a nodule on a scan that was intended for something else, such as back pain or a cracked rib. Though essentially a moment of chance, Dr. Mullins says this happens fairly often.

“These accidental discoveries can be life-saving,” Dr. Mullins says. “I recall a patient who fell off a ladder, came to get an x-ray for a broken rib, and on that x-ray was a nodule that turned out to be cancerous. I told the patient, ‘God pushed you off that ladder,’ because finding that nodule turned what might have been a sad outcome into a fantastic one.”

But no matter how or when a patient arrives in the Advanced Thoracic Oncology Center, they will enjoy the benefits of coordinated, multidisciplinary care under one roof.

“This is the premier venue for the evaluation of lung nodules and minimally-invasive cancer surgeries of the lung,” Dr. Mullins says. “And the best part is that it’s right here at home.”

Getting Screened For Lung Cancer

St. Joseph's/Candler has four convenient locations in Savannah, Pooler and Bluffton for lung cancer screenings. The American College of Radiology's Committee on CT Accreditation designated St. Joseph’s/Candler’s program as an ACR Lung Cancer Screen Center.

For more information about lung cancer screening eligibility, contact Kaitlyn Youmans, RN, in the Advanced Thoracic Oncology Center at 912-819-5169 or visit www.sjchs.org/lung-cancer-screening.