Are you at risk for lung cancer New technology could save your life

Robotic technology is making diagnosis safer and more accurate

Marketing executive Fran Yanity does not smoke and thought she was healthy when a comprehensive physical checkup detected a suspicious chest nodule. A traditional bronchoscopy used to diagnose lung disorders did not detect a tumor, but Yanity’s doctors wanted to take a closer look. They ordered a robotic-assisted bronchoscopy that created a 3D mapping of her lungs, then guided a tiny camera with a tissue-sampling tool through her airwaves. The extremely precise and accurate technology – recently exhibited at University Hospital - found Yanity’s cancer and helped to save her life.

“When the robotic bronchoscopy provided a clear, definitive answer, I felt a sense of relief,” said Yanity. “Knowing what I was facing allowed me to move forward and focus on the next steps.”

The next steps included surgery to remove the diseased part of her lung. Because her cancer was discovered before it spread, she is now cancer-free.

Early detection and screening

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in the U.S. That’s due in part to symptoms not appearing until the cancer has spread and is more difficult to treat.

While smoking poses the greatest risk, exposure to air pollution, radon and other environmental dangers can also be hazardous.

The Centers for Disease Control recommends yearly lung cancer screenings with a low-dose CT or LDCT scan if you:

• Have a history of smoking 20 packs-per-year or more AND

• Smoke now or have quit within the past 15 years AND

• Are between 50 and 80 years old.

Dr. Jason Gauthier, a lung surgeon at University Health and UT Health San Antonio, also recommends talking to your provider about a chest screening if you have respiratory symptoms.

“People who are non-smokers do get lung cancer. It’s just less common. I’d recommend anyone having symptoms of lung disease talk to their primary care doctor” about being screened, he said.

Symptoms include:

• A persistent cough

• Shortness of breath

• Wheezing or chest pain

• Coughing up blood

• Fatigue or weight loss

Technology is advancing detection

The use of robotic bronchoscopy to precisely locate and collect a tissue sample for testing has increased the accuracy of detecting cancer while decreasing the risk of injuring or puncturing the lung.

“Now, with this technology, we can biopsy smaller lesions in the lungs at an earlier stage and it is extremely safe,” said Dr. Philip Ong, a pulmonologist and medical director of bronchoscopy at University Health.

Fran Yanity credits the robotic-assisted technology with detecting her cancer and is on a mission to raise awareness about screening.

“Because I caught my cancer early, I have 95% long-term survival rate,” she said. “The survival rates are so much higher the earlier a tumor is found.”