World Lung Cancer Day: Latest Advances Giving Patients Hope

Each year, more than 200,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with lung cancer, according to the American Cancer Society.

While lung cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths, experts with Baptist Health Herbert Wertheim Cancer Institute say there is encouraging news: advances in screening, diagnosis and treatment are helping more people detect lung cancer earlier and live longer than ever before.

They say innovation, early detection and personalized treatment are transforming the way lung cancer is diagnosed and treated, offering new hope to patients and their families.

The Life-Saving Power of Early Detection

When it comes to lung cancer, finding it early can be just as important as how it's treated.

Low-dose CT (LDCT) screening can detect lung cancer at its earliest stages, when treatment is often most effective. Many people diagnosed through screening have stage I disease, which can often be treated successfully with surgery or targeted radiation therapy.

A low-dose CT scan is quick, painless and noninvasive. The test takes only a few minutes and uses advanced X-ray technology with minimal radiation exposure to detect small abnormalities in the lungs, often before symptoms develop.  

Despite its proven benefits, lung cancer screening remains underutilized, these experts note.

"Early detection can significantly improve outcomes and greater opportunity for cure," says Manmeet Singh Ahluwalia, M.D., chief of medical oncology, chief scientific officer and deputy director of Wertheim Cancer Institute and Fernandez Family Endowed Chair in Cancer Research.

Who Should Consider Lung Cancer Screening?

You may be eligible for annual lung cancer screening if you:

·       Are between 50 and 80 years old

·       Have a significant history of smoking

·       Currently smoke or have quit within the past 15 years

Baptist Health Cancer Care’s lung screening quiz can help you learn whether you may be eligible and if you should talk with your physician about whether lung cancer screening is right for you.

Starting Treatment Sooner

At Baptist Health Cancer Care, lung cancer screening is about more than finding disease, says Dr. Ahluwalia.

“For many patients, a screening can provide the opportunity to begin treatment sooner and improve the likelihood of a positive outcome,” he says.

Between 2019 and 2023, more than 11,000 individuals underwent low-dose CT screening at Baptist Health. These screenings helped connect high-risk patients with potentially life-saving care – before symptoms developed.

Personalized Care for Every Patient

Advances in precision medicine allow physicians to study the unique characteristics of a patient's tumor and develop a treatment plan tailored specifically to that cancer.

Through biomarker testing and molecular profiling, doctors can identify genetic changes that may help determine which therapies may be most effective.

"We are no longer treating all lung cancers the same way," says Ian Bostock, M.D., thoracic surgical oncologist with Wertheim Cancer Institute. "Today, we can learn more about what is driving a patient's cancer and use that information to personalize treatment in ways that weren't possible just a few years ago."

New Advances Are Expanding Treatment Options

Researchers continue to make significant progress in lung cancer care, says Dr. Ahluwalia.

At the recent annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), studies highlighted promising new therapies that are helping patients live longer and reducing the risk of cancer recurrence.

These advances include new immunotherapies, targeted treatments and innovative drug combinations designed to attack cancer more precisely.

“These findings continue to reinforce the value of comprehensive biomarker testing,” says Bruna Pellini, M.D., chief of thoracic medical oncology with Wertheim Cancer Institute. “Because more personalized cancer treatments are now being used earlier, doctors need to identify the specific features of a patient’s cancer as soon as it is diagnosed. That information can help guide treatment decisions and give patients access to therapies that may work best for them.”

Comprehensive biomarker testing helps physicians better understand the genetic characteristics of a patient's cancer, allowing them to match eligible patients with therapies that may be more effective and personalized to their specific disease. As research continues to advance, these insights are helping expand treatment options and improve outcomes for patients across all stages of lung cancer, Dr. Pellini says.

Better Together: The Power of Team-Based Care

A lung cancer diagnosis often requires expertise from many different specialists.

At Wertheim Cancer Institute, patients benefit from a multidisciplinary team that includes pulmonologists, radiologists, thoracic surgeons, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, pathologists, nurse navigators and other cancer specialists, all of whom work together to develop a personalized care plan.

This collaborative approach helps ensure that patients receive coordinated care from diagnosis through treatment, recovery and survivorship. For patients and their families, that means having a dedicated team guiding and supporting them throughout every stage of care.

Know the Signs and Take Action

While lung cancer screening is designed for people who do not have symptoms, it is important to talk with your physician if you experience any of these symptoms:

·       Persistent cough

·       Coughing up blood

·       Shortness of breath

·       Chest pain

·       Unexplained weight loss

·       Hoarseness

·       Frequent lung infections

Understanding the warning signs and knowing your risk factors can help you take an active role in your lung health. While not all lung cancers can be prevented, avoiding tobacco products, limiting exposure to secondhand smoke and discussing screening with your physician are important steps you can take to help reduce your risk.

This World Lung Cancer Day, physicians at Baptist Health Herbert Wertheim Cancer Institute encourage you to learn about your risk factors, talk with your physician about screening and take proactive steps toward protecting your lung health. Click here to learn more about lung cancer screenings and to find out if you are eligible.