photo by: LMH Health

LMH Health, 325 Maine St., is pictured in May 2021.

“The biopsy came back positive. It’s lung cancer.”

Countless people in our community hear these words no one ever expects. Lung cancer is one of the most common cancers affecting both men and women in the United States and the leading cause of cancer death in the U.S., accounting for about one in five of all cancer deaths, according to the American Cancer Society.

More people die of lung cancer than colon, breast, and prostate cancers combined.

Data from the National Institutes of Health indicate that the five-year survival rate for patients diagnosed early can be higher than 75%. As cancer progresses, the statistics are sobering. The long-term survival rate decreases dramatically when diagnosed at later stages, with the average five-year survival rate for stage four lung cancer less than 10%.

LMH Health is committed to providing life-saving health care by using advanced technology. In July 2024, LMH unveiled a PET/CT scanner as part of our commitment to progressive, integrated cancer care. We’re now advancing lung care with Ion Robotic Bronchoscopy–a major leap forward in accessing hard-to-reach lung nodules.

DETECTING LUNG CANCER ISN’T ALWAYS SIMPLE

Most lung cancers start as small nodules deep in the lungs.

Dr. Vance Burns, a pulmonologist with LMH Health, said when it comes to cancer, his job is to fetch answers.

“Someone in the clinic will ask ‘What is this thing on the X-ray?’ I’ll say I don’t know, but let’s go get some of it,” he said.

Pulmonologists have traditionally used bronchoscopy to obtain samples of lung tissue for biopsies. During this minimally invasive procedure, a pulmonologist passes a thin tube through a patient’s nose or mouth down into the lungs. A special device is then passed through the tube to fetch the sample.

Traditional bronchoscopy has its limitations. It can be harder to reach the periphery of the lungs where there are branches that taper and turn. This means traditional instruments aren’t able to reach nodules located in deeper regions of the lungs.

Early lung cancer is treatable, but only if they can find and biopsy the nodule before it progresses.

INTRODUCING ION

Ion robotic bronchoscopy helps mitigate these concerns. Ion uses a thin, ultra-maneuverable robotic catheter to reach parts of the lung that aren’t possible using a standard biopsy.

“It’s like using a space alien finger,” Burns said. “The catheter has multiple joints that allow us to twist, turn and get into spaces a traditional bronchoscope can’t.”

Here’s how a typical Ion-guided biopsy works from start to finish:

A recent CT scan is loaded into the Ion’s planning console. The software automatically creates a hand-drawn circle onto the borders of the nodule and suggests pathways to reach it.

“I review the map and choose the best path,” Burns said. “Ion’s software finalizes and saves the map, and that’s what I take to the operating room and use during the procedure.”

In the operating room, the robot stabilizes the catheter. Dr. Burns uses a system similar to a video game controller to navigate through the lung toward the nodule. Once it’s there, he uses proprioception and fluoroscopy to help confirm the position of the catheter.

In layman’s terms, Burns uses technical skills to feel the airway along with continuous X-rays that produce real-time, moving images to find the location of the nodule.

“Once I’m in the right spot, I send a tool through the catheter – a needle, brush or forceps – to take samples and pass them off to the pathologist. They analyze it in real time to make sure we’re getting the samples we need,” Burns explained.

After collecting samples of the lung tissue, Burns thoroughly checks the lung to make sure there isn’t any significant bleeding.

“More than 95% of patients have the procedure and go home the same day,” he said. “I’d estimate the experience for most people is similar to having a colonoscopy. In this case, we use a smaller scope, and you don’t have to do a prep.”

IMPACTING PATIENT CARE

For patients, the minimally invasive procedure generally means experiencing fewer complications, less pain and faster recovery. The Ion system’s precision results in nodules that can be sampled when they are pre-cancerous or at an early stage, and that can make a significant impact on patient outcomes.

“Early-stage cancers are dramatically more treatable than those we find at later stages,” Burns explained. “Robotic navigation bronchoscopy using tools like Ion help us get to that spot on your lung that might be cancer and get answers quickly. It can make all the difference.”

ACCESS MATTERS

Knowing where you should turn for care often comes down to what matters most: convenience, continuity, and truly personal care.

Patients at LMH Health receive care from pulmonologists who know their medical history, preferences and family dynamics – someone who will be there from your initial scan through the biopsy and follow-up care.

“When you come to LMH, you’re going to get personalized care from a doctor who knows you. That’s not something you usually get with larger health systems,” said Burns.

Traveling long distances to get medical care can be challenging, especially when you’re facing the unknown. LMH Health is using advanced technology like PET/CT and Ion Robotic Bronchoscopy to diagnose lung cancer early and get you on the road to recovery.

“Staying local means keeping care accessible, cohesive, and connected,” Burns said. “It benefits the patient and the people supporting them through every step of the process.”

DONOR SUPPORT MAKES AN IMPACT

Since 1969, donors to the LMH Health Foundation have generously supported access to high-quality, compassionate care in Douglas County and beyond. Many have invested in initiatives focused on advanced technology, making it possible to provide state-of-the-art healthcare close to home.

That support helped make Ion Robotic Bronchoscopy a reality at LMH Health, with the Foundation covering up to $310,000 of the cost to purchase the technology.

“Using the new Ion Robotic technology at LMH Health, we can get to small nodules once thought to be unreachable. We can do this as an outpatient procedure and have real answers for you in a few days,” Burns said. “We’re so fortunate to have donor support through the LMH Health Foundation to ensure patients have timely access to care, and that will make a meaningful difference. If you have risk factors for lung cancer, or a concerning finding on your screening CT, reach out to us and we can help.”

• Autumn Bishop is the marketing manager and content strategist at LMH Health, a sponsor of the Lawrence Journal-World’s health section.