#United States #Health Care #Lung Cancer #St. Elizabeth #Edgewood

St. Elizabeth Healthcare Achieves Major Milestone in Lung Cancer Screening

In a commendable achievement, St. Elizabeth Healthcare has marked a significant turning point in cancer diagnosis and treatment, completing over 50,000 low-dose CT lung cancer screenings since the inception of its screening program in 2013. This extensive initiative has proven instrumental in the early detection of lung cancer, culminating in 500 early-stage diagnoses—a feat that is pivotal in saving lives.

Dr. Michael Gieske, the Director of the St. Elizabeth Lung Cancer Screening Program, emphasizes that early detection is key: “When you catch lung cancer in stage I, there's a greater than 90% chance you can cure it with a simple surgical procedure or precisely targeted radiation.” This is especially crucial since lung cancer ranks as the third most common cancer in the U.S. and remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths, surpassing deaths caused by breast, colon, and prostate cancers combined.

Often dubbed the “silent killer,” lung cancer generally goes unnoticed until it reaches an advanced stage, complicating treatment options and reducing chances of cure. St. Elizabeth's program actively counters this narrative—about 73% of patients diagnosed through their initiative have been identified in stage I, and 76% are at stage I or II, both of which are regarded as early and manageable stages of the disease.

One of the standout stories from this initiative is that of Nancy Mueller, a 58-year-old who was initially diagnosed during her annual physical check-up this year. A routine scan unveiled a small spot on her lung, leading to her stage I diagnosis. “My story is quite simple. I went in for my yearly physical, and like every year since my breast cancer diagnosis, I had a mammogram,” she explained. After undergoing a straightforward lung cancer screening, she discovered that while the situation was serious, her cancer was caught in a timely manner, allowing for successful surgical intervention with clean lymph nodes post-operation.

The success of St. Elizabeth's program can be attributed to its multidisciplinary team consisting of lung surgeons, radiologists, pulmonologists, primary care providers, nurse navigators, and oncologists. The screening process is both quick and efficient, lasting under 20 minutes, and is offered at seven ACR-accredited locations.

From a modest beginning with just seven patients in 2013, St. Elizabeth now conducts over 8,000 screenings annually. Notably, due to initiatives like this, Kentucky has transitioned from one of the lowest-ranked states in lung cancer early detection to a national leader in screening.

As the program continues to grow and evolve, St. Elizabeth remains steadfast in its mission: to discover lung cancer at the earliest stages, administer prompt treatment, and ultimately save lives. Individuals seeking more information about the lung cancer screening program are encouraged to visit their website at stelizabeth.com/lung or contact the Lung Cancer Screening Nurse Navigators directly at (859) 301-4072.

St. Elizabeth Healthcare operates across six facilities and maintains over 172 primary care and specialty practices throughout the Northern Kentucky, Southeastern Indiana, and Greater Cincinnati regions. Backed by the Diocese of Covington, this mission-driven organization is committed to enhancing the health of the communities it serves, providing more than $100 million in uncompensated care and community benefits each year.