English
Lung cancer is the deadliest and second most commonly diagnosed cancer in the United States. And many lung tumors arise in the outer areas of the lungs, where they only cause symptoms once 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 [Administración médica de militares jubilados] (VHA) on the specific risks faced by active and retired military women. Eperjesiova wants all retired military personnel to know that they are at high risk for lung cancer and that they have the right to preventive measures to detect lung cancer early when it can be treated.
Why is lung cancer an important issue for active and retired military women?
Many factors play an important role in the development of lung cancer. While women are generally less likely to smoke, we know that all active military personnel have had significant exposure to dangerous chemicals, putting all retired military personnel at high risk for lung cancer. The PACT Act, passed in 2022, promised to meaningfully address this problem by identifying the medical conditions associated with this exposure, improving access to health care, and encouraging military retirees to seek early medical care and be tested for lung cancer.
What is the connection between exposure to air pollution, toxic chemicals and burn pits and lung cancer?
While military personnel no longer receive cigarettes in their rations (a true story), exposure to other dangerous chemicals is also known to cause lung cancer. All soldiers are exposed to risks, whether from burn pits, Agent Orange, asbestos, radon or uranium from ammunition. These are just a few examples. It doesn’t matter if you’re not genetically predisposed to cancer or don’t smoke: exposure to these chemicals changes our genetics, leading to the development of lung cancer. There are no retired military personnel who are at low risk.
How is lung cancer diagnosed?
We recommend regular testing for all eligible military retirees with CT. If these tests reveal something that concerns us, we offer the option of a biopsy. Now we can use a tool called Ion or Monarch, which is used for robotic bronchoscopies and is useful for the surgeon to take an internal sample of the lung using a minimally invasive method. We then take samples from the lymph nodes, which allow us to determine the extent of the cancer and determine the treatment to be taken.
How is lung cancer treated?
If the cancer is detected at an early stage and can be treated surgically, we use a daVinci or Mako surgical system, which allows a surgeon to remove part of the lung. If the patient cannot safely undergo surgery, we may offer the option of radiation. If the cancer has spread, we may treat it with chemotherapy or immunotherapy, or a combination of some or all of these treatments. The wonderful thing about VHA is that it is the largest medical system in the world and we have access to clinical trials and the newest, most modern equipment.
What role do robotic instruments such as bronchoscopy and robotic surgery play in lung cancer?
I know it may sound crazy: a robot performing surgery. But this operation has robotic assistance and we run the robotic arms. Robotic surgery can reach places human surgeons cannot. For example, it limits the ability to bend our wrists. These tools allow us to remove a minimal amount of tissue to treat lung cancer.
Are there racial or socioeconomic disparities in diagnosis and treatment?
In the general population, black people are more likely to have more advanced lung cancer. When it comes to the retired military population, we see geographic differences. Military retirees in rural areas far from medical centers of recognized excellence are less likely to undergo preventative medical testing. It’s important to make people aware of the risk: it can mean the difference between treating lung cancer at an early stage and being diagnosed at an advanced stage.
This educational resource was created with support from Intuitive.
From your website articles
Related articles on the Internet
