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Lung Cancer— Risks, Screenings, and Treatment at UPMC Passavant
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death and the second most diagnosed cancer in the United States. But early detection can save lives. At UPMC, experts in pulmonary medicine, oncology, and thoracic surgery provide comprehensive care for people at risk.
“ Early diagnosis is critical,” says Ryan Levy, MD, chief of thoracic surgery at UPMC Passavant, co-director of the UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute, and chair of Minimally Invasive Thoracic Surgery at UPMC.“ When lung cancer is detected at an earlier stage, we’ re more often able to offer our patients curative treatment options— meaning patients have better outcomes and improved long-term survival.”
Who Is at Risk?
Smoking tobacco remains the leading cause of lung cancer in the United States.
Additional risk factors for lung cancer include:
• Family history of lung cancer
• Secondhand smoke exposure
• Environmental pollutants
• Exposure to chemicals, such as radon gas and asbestos
Symptoms of lung cancer include:
• Cough
• Coughing up bloody or rust-colored mucus
• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain
• Wheezing
• Unexplained weight loss
Screening Criteria
Early detection is vital for lung cancer, as most early-stage cases are either asymptomatic or symptoms are minimal. Experts at UPMC Passavant offer low-dose CT scans to screen for pulmonary nodules— dense growths made up of tissues or cells that may lead to lung cancer.
Candidates for a lung cancer screening include those who are:
• Between 50 to 80 years old
• Current smokers or those who have quit smoking in the last 15 years
• Those with at least a 20 pack-year history of smoking( one pack per day for 20 years, two packs per day for 10 years).
Access to Advanced Technology
The team at UPMC Passavant pioneered the use of robotic bronchoscopy to identify and treat lung cancer early. Robotic bronchoscopy uses minimally invasive technology to help physicians navigate deep into the lungs with greater precision than traditional bronchoscopy, allowing biopsy of small and difficult-to-reach lung nodules that may otherwise require more invasive diagnostic procedures. Robotic bronchoscopy provides an extremely detailed 3D view of the lungs’ airway passages, which allows the physician to navigate the bronchoscope precisely to the target nodule using a handheld controller.
“ This gives us the ability to reach areas of the lung that can be challenging to access and increases our ability to make a cancer diagnosis on even small lesions,” says Dr. Levy.“ By making the diagnosis earlier, it allows us