Lung cancer

If a person doesn’t have regular lung cancer screenings, it is often not found until symptoms develop. At that point, the cancer is more difficult to treat. HCA Florida Healthcare experts recommend annual screenings for most individuals who meet the screening criteria.

For those at high risk for lung cancer, screening is recommended. HCA Florida Healthcare recommends a low-dose computed tomography (CT) scan each year for people who meet the following criteria:

• 50-80 years old*
• Those with least a 20-pack-year history (a pack year is defined as smoking one pack per day) and are current smokers or have quit within the last 15 years
• Have a 30-pack-year history

*Must be 50-77 years old for Medicare

To determine your pack-year equivalent, multiply the number of packs of cigarettes smoked each day, by the number of years you’ve smoked. For example, you have a 20-pack-year history if you smoked:

• 1 pack a day for 20 years
• 2 packs a day for 10 years

Using a CT scan, lung cancer screenings involve taking a picture of the lungs with no medications or needles. The aim of screening is to identify cancer at an early stage.

Many facilities within the HCA Florida Healthcare network offer low-dose CT scans. Talk with your primary care provider about your risk for lung cancer and the need for screening.

Many of the hospitals in our network have lung nodule clinics, aimed to serve patients with lung abnormalities found on medical imaging. Our team of nurse navigators work with your healthcare team to help you manage diagnosis, appointments, hospital and community resources, treatment decisions and survivorships.

Using your scan, a nurse navigator makes recommendations for follow-up care — including a specialist referral, if needed — and coordinate the proper services throughout your care journey.

Bronchoscopy has been useful in the evaluation of patients who may have lung cancer. Robotic-assisted technology provides doctors with the stability and increased precision needed for a deep lung biopsy. With robotic bronchoscopy, physicians are able to diagnose lung cancer earlier than they have previously.

If you recently learned you have a suspicious lung nodule, you may experience a bit of stress with the uncertainty of whether it is benign or cancerous. We can help you find the answers you need.