Sponsored by Northwell Health

NORWALK – The recent news about Pope Leo XIV’s surgery to remove a cancerous lobe of his lung has urged doctors at Northwell Health’s Norwalk Hospital to encourage Westporters to think about their risks and the upside of early detection.

Screening saves lives

Medium to heavy smokers – and recent quitters – may be eligible for lung cancer screenings. But only 1 in 5 people who are eligible for these safe, low-dose radiation CT (LDCT) scans get them, according to the American Cancer Society.

“More people get screened for colon and breast cancer than for lung cancer,” explains Mohir Hedeshian, MD, Regional Chief of Thoracic Surgery at Northwell’s Danbury and Norwalk Hospitals. 

Dr. Hedeshian attributes this to low awareness about who qualifies and how to get lung cancer screenings. People aged 50 to 80 years who have a 20 pack-year smoking history and currently smoke or have quit within the past 15 years and are eligible for annual screenings. Learn more about 20 pack-year smoking.

Constantine Poulos, MD, an attending thoracic surgeon also at Danbury and Norwalk Hospitals, said that today’s screenings “involve no needles or injections and do not require sedation.” It is a CT scan in an open, donut-shaped machine and not enclosed like an MRI.

Screening is effective in finding lung cancer at an early stage before it causes symptoms. According to The New York Times, the Pope’s doctors found that he had early-stage pulmonary adenocarcinoma. But, since it was detected early, the Pope was able to walk out of the hospital just a couple of days after the surgery.

The Pope didn’t smoke

Though smoking is a leading cause of lung cancer, it doesn’t mean that if you don’t smoke or have never smoked you have zero risk of getting lung cancer.

There are other risk factors. Some are environmental living with second-hand smoke, say, or living in an environment with high levels of radon. 

Another risk factor is your genetics. Your family’s history with cancer – particularly lung cancer – can play a big role in your risk of getting lung cancer. Reportedly, both of Pope Leo’s parents died of cancer and his brother suffers from blood cancer. Dr. Hedeshian said your doctor may consider whether screening is appropriate for you, based on your overall risk.

Currently, there are no guidelines for routine lung cancer screening in people who have never smoked, even though never smoking does not mean zero risk. Dr. Hedeshian said it’s important to talk with your primary care provider about your individual risk of lung cancer.

But some warning symptoms – recurring pneumonia, persistent cough or shortness of breath or coughing up blood – should be discussed with your doctor. Early diagnosis is key to beating cancer, so these symptoms should not be ignored.

What happens if a nodule is found?

So, you get screened and they find a nodule? Is that a death sentence? Hardly.

Dr. Hedeshian said that most lung nodules – about 90% to 95% – are benign.  

Northwell’s multidisciplinary team of pulmonologists, thoracic surgeons and oncologists determine the level of care needed after a nodule is found. That might include surveillance imaging, biopsy, or other surveillance CT scans.

The team considers each patient’s risk factors and what the nodule looks like over time.

Finding lung cancer early is the easiest way to get rid of it. Many times, surgery alone can treat lung cancer nowadays, thanks to early detection and advances in treatments. 

If you are interested in learning more about lung cancer screening, please speak with your primary care provider or call Northwell’s lung cancer screening line at 203-730-LUNG.

Northwell Health has sponsored this content for Westport Journal. For more information, visit northwell.edu.