spanish
Lung cancer is the deadliest and second most diagnosed cancer in the United States. And many lung tumors start in places where they don’t cause symptoms until they reach distant parts of the lung and the cancer has spread.
HealthyWomen spoke with Bianka Eperjesiova, MD, director of interventional pulmonology at Corewell Health and former director of interventional pulmonology at the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) about the risks specific to female service members and veterans. Eperjesiova wants all veterans to know that they are at high risk for lung cancer and deserve preventive treatment to detect lung cancer at an early, treatable stage.
Why is lung cancer an important issue for military women and military veterans?
Many factors contribute to the development of lung cancer. Although women are generally less likely to smoke, we know that all veterans are at increased risk for lung cancer due to significant exposure to hazardous chemicals. The PACT Act bill, passed in 2022, promised to address this problem in a meaningful way by identifying conditions associated with exposure, increasing access to health care, and encouraging veterans to get early lung cancer screening.
Is there a link between airborne hazards, exposure to toxic chemicals, and lung cancer burn pits?
Soldiers no longer receive cigarettes with their rations (true story), but exposure to other harmful chemicals is known to cause lung cancer. Every soldier is exposed to hazards, whether from burn pits, Agent Orange, asbestos, radon, or uranium in munitions. 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 is no such thing as a low-risk veteran.
How is lung cancer diagnosed?
Routine screening with a CT scan is recommended for all eligible veterans. If these tests show any concerns, a biopsy may be suggested. Robot-assisted bronchoscopy tools called Ion or Monarch are now available to help surgeons take lung samples from the inside in a minimally invasive approach. We then take a sample of your lymph nodes, which tells us how far the cancer has progressed to decide what to do for treatment.
How is lung cancer treated?
If the cancer is at an early stage and is treatable with surgery, doctors use the daVinci or Mako surgical systems, which can help remove part of the lung. If a patient cannot safely undergo surgery, radiation therapy may be given. 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 it has access to the latest cutting-edge equipment and clinical trials.
What is the role of robotic tools in lung cancer, including robotic bronchoscopy and robotic surgery?
I know this may sound crazy. This is a robot that performs surgery. But the surgery is done with the help of a robot and we control the robotic arm. Robotic surgery can reach places that human surgeons cannot. For example, there are limits to how much you can bend your wrist. These tools allow us to remove the minimal amount of tissue needed to overcome lung cancer.
Are there racial and socioeconomic disparities in diagnosis and treatment?
In the general population, black people are more likely to have more advanced lung cancer. Geographic disparities can be seen in the veteran population. Veterans in rural areas located far from quality medical centers are less likely to visit for preventive screenings. Spreading risk awareness is important. It can be the difference between treating early lung cancer and diagnosing it at a later stage.
This training material was created with support from:m It’s intuitive.
From your site article
Related articles on the web
