HCA Florida Brandon Hospital Announces Lung Cancer Screening Program

BRANDON, FL — HCA Florida Brandon Hospital announced its new comprehensive lung cancer screening program. Through incidental findings and scheduled low-dose CT screenings, the hospital is finding lung cancer before it becomes symptomatic.This is when it is most treatable.

“Our dedicated Lung Cancer Program provides great benefits to the community through early detection and with an established goal of a reduction of mortality from cancer. Our team of caregivers work together to identify cancer for patients at-risk of developing cancer, and if cancer is identified, the team will establish the best course of treatment and provide ongoing support throughout the cancer journey,” said Dr. Alan Harmatz, chief medical officer at HCA Florida Brandon Hospital. “Our team of lung nodule coordinators are dedicated to ensuring patients receive effective, efficient and compassionate care as well as long-term support.”

Incidental findings uses innovative technologies to detect suspicious lung nodules by analyzing CT exams which include the lungs in all of our emergency departments, outpatient imaging and inpatient services. HCA's emergency departments include HCA Florida Brandon Hospital, HCA Florida Lakeland Emergency, HCA Florida New Tampa Emergency, HCA Florida Plant City Emergency, HCA Florida Riverview Emergency and HCA Florida University Emergency.

Scheduled screenings for a low-dose CT lung screening is referred through a physician, is quick and painless, requires no needles or dye and uses less radiation than traditional CT scans. Studies have shown screening those at high risk with low-dose CT scans before symptoms are present can find lung cancer early when it is easier to treat and more likely to be cured.

Early Detection Is Key

Lung cancer has the lowest five-year survival rate at only 18 percent compared to breast at 90 percent, prostate at 99 percent and colorectal at 65 percent.

The five-year survival rate for lung cancer drops dramatically from a stage 1 diagnosis (68-92 percent survival) to a stage 4 diagnosis (0-10 percent survival).

Who qualifies for lung cancer screening?

• Adults ages 50-77
• Current smokers with at least a 20-pack-year history
• Former smokers who have quit within the past 15 years with a 20-pack-year history
• No current signs or symptoms of lung cancer
• Patients that have had a Shared Decision-Making meeting
• Pack-year history calculated as number of packs of cigarettes smoked per day multiplied by number of years individual has smoked (e.g. one pack of cigarettes per day for 20 years or two packs of cigarettes per day for 10 years, etc.)

What are the community benefits of a lung nodule program?

• Minimally invasive diagnostic and surgical options to treat lung nodules
• Blood test
• Electromagnetic navigation bronchoscopy
• Minimally invasive pulmonary nodule biopsy
• Robotic assisted lung nodule survey

For more information about the lung cancer screening program at HCA Florida Brandon Hospital, call 813-916-1581.