Fountain Valley, Calif. - The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recently reported that there is significant evidence that low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) screening of current and former adult smokers can reduce lung cancer death rates by 20 percent. In its continued efforts to provide its served communities convenient access to screening technologies, Orange Coast Memorial Medical Center (OCMMC) recently announced the opening of its new Early Lung Cancer Screening Program.

The American Cancer Society (ACS) estimates that in 2012 there were 226,160 new cases of lung cancer and 160,340 deaths, accounting for about 28% of all cancer deaths. Lung cancer continues to be the leading cause of cancer death in American men and women. Although tobacco smoking is the main preventable cause of lung cancer, the incidence of lung cancer in non-smoking individuals is on the rise.

"We are extremely excited to offer Orange County residents today's most advanced lung cancer screening and staging technologies," said Dr. Thomas Asciuto, pulmonologist at Orange Coast Memorial Medical Center "Lung cancer is responsible for taking more lives than breast, colon and prostate cancer combined which is why we are educating and encouraging high-risk patients to strongly consider undergoing a low-dose chest CT screening."


As part of the MemorialCare Cancer Institute at OCMMC, The Early Lung Cancer Screening Program is equipped with a 64 slice CT scanner. The CT scan consists of a low dose high resolution image of the chest. The radiologist then interprets the findings of the scan and communicates the results with the patient's physician who makes recommendations based on the findings.

According to the Lung Cancer Alliance, only 16% of lung cancer is diagnosed at its earliest and most curable stage, and more than 51% of cases are diagnosed after the cancer has metastasized. With Endobronchial Ultrasound (EBUS), a new minimally-invasive lung cancer staging technology available at OCMMC, it is now possible to accurately stage lung cancer more accurately for all lung cancer patients. There are several advantages for using EBUS as a diagnostic tool including:

- More lymph nodes stations are accessible compared to the conventional, more invasive surgical procedure, known as mediastinoscopy.

- Patient avoids having to undergo a more invasive surgical procedure to obtain a diagnosis.

- EBUS is safe, accurate, less invasive with a lower risk of complications, and performed in an outpatient setting.

More HCB News