In the Bluegrass, more than 10,000 people die from cancer each year, with lung cancer as the most common cause of cancer deaths in the state. In fact, Kentucky has the highest rate of new lung cancer diagnoses in the nation.
“There are currently 84.8 cases of lung cancer per every 100,000 people in the state, while the U.S. average is only 54.6 out of every 100,000,” said Dr. Irfan Waheed, Pulmonologist at Med Center Health. “It is a silent killer, so when someone notices symptoms the cancer may have spread or is at an advanced stage. Examples of symptoms include coughing up blood, shortness of breath, or pain in the chest.”
Early detection is critical. Med Center Health offers low-dose CT lung cancer screening, a noninvasive scan that can detect lung cancer at its earliest stages. When lung cancer is caught before it spreads, the likelihood of surviving five years or more after diagnosis improves to 63%.
“When we detect lung cancer at stage one, it is much more treatable,” said Dr. Rahul Rajeev, Cardiothoracic Surgeon at Med Center Health. “We can surgically remove the portion of the lung that has cancer, and we use minimally-invasive techniques, so most patients won’t have any functional difficulties after surgery. Stage one cancer is usually characterized by a small tumor that has not spread outside the lungs.”
Med Center Health was recently named a Center of Excellence by GO2 for its ongoing commitment to providing the South Central Kentucky community with patient-centered, evidence-based lung cancer care. Med Center Health offers the area’s only Lung Nodule Program. This program offers next-level, fast-track care to bring new hope for patients. The Lung Nodule Program’s goal is to detect cancerous lung nodules at the earliest stages and then provide treatment quickly before the cancer advances to a higher stage.
Med Center Health’s Lung Nodule Program consists of a team of 12 providers, including pulmonologists, radiation oncologists, medical oncologists, and cardiothoracic surgeons. Together, this team of providers has more than 200 years of clinical experience. The team meets every Friday to discuss new patients.
“We review all of the cases we are going to see in clinic that day,” said Dr. Rodney Steff, Pulmonologist at Med Center Health. “As a group, we determine what each patient needs next – whether that’s a CT scan, PET scan, blood test, or surgery. By the time the patient sits down with their physician, we already have a clear plan for diagnosis and treatment.”
At Med Center Health, lung cancer screening is more than a test – it’s the first step in a comprehensive, coordinated approach to care.
To learn more about Med Center Health’s comprehensive lung cancer program, please visit MedCenterHealth.org/Lung.
-submitted by Med Center Health
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