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Lung cancer is the deadliest and second most diagnosed cancer in the United States. And many lung tumors start in the outer part of the lung and do not cause symptoms until the cancer has spread.
HealthyWomen spoke with Dr. Bianka Eperjesiova, director of interventional pulmonology at Corewell Health and former director of interventional pulmonology at the Veterans Health Administration.Veterans’ Medical Administration) (VHA), discusses specific risks for active-duty and retired military women. Eperjesiova wants all veterans to know that they are at high risk for lung cancer and that they have the right to receive preventive care to detect lung cancer early when it is treatable.
Why is lung cancer an important issue for active-duty and retired military women?
Many factors play an important role in the development of lung cancer. Although women are generally less likely to smoke, we know that all active-duty military personnel have significant exposure to hazardous chemicals, putting all veterans at increased risk for lung cancer. The PACT Act bill, passed in 2022, promised to address this problem in a meaningful way by identifying conditions linked to exposure, increasing access to health care, and encouraging veterans to seek treatment and get screened for lung cancer early.
What do exposure to air pollution, toxic chemicals, and burn pits have to do with lung cancer?
Soldiers no longer receive cigarettes with their rations (true story), but exposure to other dangerous chemicals is known to cause lung cancer. Every soldier is exposed to hazards including burn pits, Agent Orange, asbestos, radon, and uranium in ammunition. These are just a few examples. It doesn’t matter if you’re not genetically predisposed to cancer or if you don’t smoke. Exposure to these chemicals can change your genetic makeup and cause lung cancer. There are no retired military members at low risk.
How is lung cancer diagnosed?
Routine screening using CT is recommended for all eligible veterans. If these tests show any concerns, you will be offered the option of a biopsy. We now have tools used in robotic bronchoscopy called Ion or Monarch that can help surgeons remove samples from inside the lung in a minimally invasive way. We then take samples of the lymph nodes, which can tell us the level of spread of the cancer to determine what treatment should be administered.
How is lung cancer treated?
If the cancer is found at an early stage and can be treated surgically, doctors may use the daVinci or Mako surgical systems, which are useful for removing part of the lung. If patients cannot safely undergo surgery, radiation treatment options may be offered. If the cancer has spread, it may be treated with chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or a combination of some or all of these treatments. The amazing thing about VHA is that it is the largest health care system in the world and has access to clinical trials and the latest cutting-edge equipment.
What role do robotic tools, such as bronchoscopes and robotic surgery, play in lung cancer treatment?
I know this may sound crazy. This is a robot that performs surgery. But the surgery has robotic assistance and we control the robotic arm. Robotic surgery can reach places that human surgeons cannot. For example, your ability to bend your wrist is limited. These tools allow minimal tissue removal to treat lung cancer.
Are there racial and socioeconomic disparities in diagnosis and treatment?
In the general population, black people are more likely to develop lung cancer. For veterans, geographic differences emerge. Veterans in rural areas far from medical centers of excellence are less likely to receive preventive medical screening. It is important to make people aware of the risks. This can make the difference between treating lung cancer at an early stage and being diagnosed at an advanced stage.
This educational material was produced with the support of . It’s intuitive.
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