02-22-2023 Primetime Living - Flipbook - Page 3
A Special Advertising Section of Baltimore Sun Media Group | Wednesday, February 22, 2023
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Ask your
Ascension
SaintAgnes
doctor:
LUNG SCREENING
Kala Davis-McDonald MD,
Director of Pulmonary Medicine
Gavin Henry MD,
Director of Thoracic Surgery
Caring
Connected
Convenient
Q:What are the requirements
for a lung screening?
A:A lung cancer screening is
recommended for adults ages 50 to 80
years who have a history of smoking
two packs a day for 10 years and
currently smoke or have quit within
the past 15 years.
Q: Lung screenings aren’t
discussed like colorectal
screenings or mammograms.
Why are they important?
A: Lung cancer is asymptomatic in
its early stages. By the time you have
symptoms such as cough, chest pain,
shortness of breath or weight loss it
is already at an advanced stage.With
lung cancer, an early diagnosis can make
all the difference.When lung cancer is
detected early at Stage 1, the chance
for survival after five years is 92%. If
it is diagnosed later as Stage 4 lung
cancer, the survival rate dips to 5%.
Lung cancer screening allows us to
identify lung cancer at an early stage
when cure is possible.
Q:What does a lung
screening entail?
A:A lung screening utilizes a low-dose
computed tomography (CT) scan.A
CT scan is a noninvasive imaging test
that can quickly generate exquisitely
detailed images throughout the body
using rotating x-rays.The purpose of
using a low-dose CT scan is to detect
the presence of lung nodules or other
abnormalities.While some lung nodules
may be benign, they can be indicators
of lung disease or in some cases cancer.
The entire process from check-in to
completion should last about half an
hour.
Q:What are the next steps
if a CT scan is abnormal?
A: If a lung nodule is found, depending
on the size and location, a decision
may be made to proceed with biopsy.
A biopsy will determine whether the
nodule is due to cancer or another
cause.Additional testing may also
be ordered as a next step to better
characterize the nodule and determine
if it has a high likelihood of being a
cancer. In situations when the nodule
may be too small or in a difficult
location to biopsy, repeat imaging is
usually performed to monitor the
nodule and establish stability. Imaging
may be repeated in 3months, 6 months
or even 1year intervals to monitor
the nodule.
Q:What are the treatment
options for Lung Cancer?
A:The physicians at the Ascension
Saint Agnes Lung Center take
a multidisciplinary approach to
treating lung cancer. Our team of
pulmonologists, nurse practitioners,
radiologists, oncologists, and thoracic
surgeons create individual plans
to provide the best care for each
patient. Lung cancer is often treated
with surgery and/or chemotherapy,
immunotherapy or radiation therapy
depending on its stage.The thoracic
surgeons at Ascension Saint Agnes are
highly experienced and committed to
providing cutting-edge technologies
with options for robotic-assisted
and minimally invasive surgery for
treatment of lung cancer which can
allow for faster recovery from surgery,
less pain and complications.
To schedule a
lung screening call
1-888-410-LUNG.
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