Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital has launched their new Lung Cancer Screening Program in an effort to detect lung cancer in patients sooner.

Most lung cancer patients are diagnosed in the late stages of the disease, according to the American Cancer Society, and most of them are past or current smokers.

Through its new Lung Cancer Screening Program, Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital’s goal is to screen patients at risk and diagnose lung cancer in the early stages. Early stage detection improves lung cancer treatment options and survival.

Under the Medicare-approved criteria, patients are eligible for lung cancer screening if they are between the ages of 55 and 74, have at least a 30-pack year history of smoking, are currently smoking, or have quit smoking for less than 15 years.

If an abnormality is detected through screening, Henry Mayo’s multi-disciplinary team of cancer specialists will determine if the patient has lung cancer utilizing diagnostic biopsy techniques including endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS); electromagnetic navigation bronchoscopy; CT-guided biopsy (percutaneous); and video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS biopsy).

“Our team will determine if the patient has cancer and at what stage of cancer they’re in,” said Mike Collins, Director of Interventional Pulmonology at Henry Mayo. “We will then provide patients with treatment options based on best practices. These treatments include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, surgery and photodynamic therapy.”

In addition, the multi-disciplinary team will provide cancer patients with education and support services, and will coordinate follow-up care based on national guidelines and established standards of care, Collins said.

Lung cancer kills more people than all other cancers combined.

We can help you quit smoking and stop using nicotine products through our individualized tobacco cessation program. You will be assessed and treated privately by a trained tobacco cessation counselor who will meet with you once a week for 30 to 45 minutes, initially. To learn more, call 661.200.1343.