Lung cancer is the number one cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. And in Oklahoma, the numbers are particularly concerning. The good news is, advances in early detection technology are changing what a lung cancer diagnosis can mean for patients.
At Stillwater Medical Center, pulmonologist Dr. Daniel Roton is using some of the most advanced tools available to detect, diagnose, and help treat lung cancer earlier than ever before—right here in the community. Here, he shares important information surrounding this type of cancer and the advancements that are saving lives every day.
Key Takeaways in This Article
- Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States.
- Low-dose CT screening is recommended for those with a significant smoking history.
- Circulating tumor DNA blood tests help assess cancer risk before biopsy.
- Robotic bronchoscopy offers same-day, minimally invasive biopsies with a 96% diagnostic yield and less than 1% risk of collapsed lung.
- Stillwater Medical Center moves patients from biopsy to oncology appointment in days.
Why Early Detection Matters More Than Anything
Lung cancer is uniquely dangerous because it produces no symptoms in its early stages. A small nodule, potentially cancerous, can sit undetected in the lungs for years without causing any noticeable signs. By the time symptoms appear, the cancer has often progressed to a later, harder-to-treat stage.
“You don’t develop any symptoms until it’s progressive,” Dr. Roton explains. “Someone might come in with a little tiny nodule. But, if they didn’t have a CT scan, no one would have any idea that early lung cancer is just sitting in there.”
The five-year survival rate tells the story clearly. Stage I and Stage II lung cancers—those confined to the lung and not yet spread—are often treatable and sometimes curable. Stage III and Stage IV cancers carry a far more serious prognosis. “Being able to detect these nodules early and get them treated, then we are talking about someone who in five years can say, ‘I had lung cancer, but I got it taken care of,’” Dr. Roton states.
Who Should Get a Lung Cancer Screening?
Current guidelines recommend low-dose CT screening for anyone with a significant smoking history. This includes current smokers as well as those who have quit within the past several years. The low-dose chest CT uses less radiation than a standard CT scan and is designed specifically to identify small nodules at the earliest possible stage.
Beyond smoking, certain occupational exposures also elevate risk. Firefighters, those exposed to asbestos (particularly in decades past), and individuals who have regularly inhaled industrial chemicals may also benefit from screening conversations with their physician.
If you have smoked for a significant period of time and have never had a lung cancer screening, talking to your primary care physician about a low-dose CT is one of the most important steps you can take for your health.
Circulating Tumor DNA: A Blood Test That Helps Predict Cancer Risk
Once a nodule is identified, the next question is how likely it is to be cancerous. Dr. Roton uses a cutting-edge blood test that detects circulating tumor DNA, meaning genetic material shed by cancer cells into the bloodstream, to help answer that question.
“I draw their blood and I look for circulating tumor DNA, and that helps me better risk-stratify whether or not this is less than ten percent cancer, something I just need to watch, or if it is more like eighty-five to ninety percent,” he notes. Combined with the patient’s clinical history and nodule characteristics, this blood test gives Dr. Roton a more complete picture before any biopsy is considered.
Robotic Bronchoscopy: Diagnosing Lung Cancer With Minimal Risk
When a biopsy is needed, Stillwater Medical Center offers the Ion by Intuitive, which is a robotic bronchoscopy system that allows Dr. Roton to navigate deep into the airways and biopsy nodules anywhere in the lungs, including small and peripheral ones that were previously unreachable with traditional bronchoscopy.
The procedure is minimally invasive. Dr. Roton guides the robotic catheter through the patient’s airway while they are asleep, takes a small tissue sample, and the patient goes home the same day. The entire procedure takes approximately 45 minutes.
The diagnostic yield, the rate at which a clear answer is obtained, is approximately 96%. And, the risk of a collapsed lung, which historically ran as high as 20-25% with CT-guided needle biopsy, drops to less than 1% with the robotic approach.
“It’s not invasive, hardly at all,” Dr. Roton assures. “I go down their airway, take a little biopsy, come out, and they get to go home same-day.”
From Biopsy to Oncologist in Days, Not Months
Speed matters enormously in early lung cancer care. At Stillwater Medical Center, the process from biopsy to first oncology appointment typically takes less than two weeks; a timeline that rivals or surpasses many large academic medical centers.
“That process at a big tertiary care center can take weeks, months unfortunately,” Dr. Roton cautions. “And, when you’re dealing with early lung cancer, every single day matters.”
Once a biopsy confirms cancer, the case is presented at a multidisciplinary tumor board, a treatment plan is developed, and the patient is quickly connected with the oncology team at the cancer center… all within the Stillwater Medical system.
Take the First Step
If you have a history of smoking or significant occupational exposures and have never been screened for lung cancer, now is the time. Early detection is the single most powerful tool available, and the technology to act on it is available right here in Stillwater.
Talk to your primary care provider about lung cancer screening, or contact Stillwater Medical Center to learn more about Dr. Roton’s pulmonology and lung cancer detection services.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who qualifies for lung cancer screening?
Current guidelines recommend low-dose CT screening for adults between 50 and 80 who have smoked at least one pack per day for 20 years, whether currently smoking or having quit within the past 15 years. Talk to your physician about whether you qualify.
Is robotic bronchoscopy painful?
No. The procedure is performed under general anesthesia, so patients are asleep throughout. Most go home the same day with minimal discomfort.
What is circulating tumor DNA?
Circulating tumor DNA is genetic material shed by cancer cells into the bloodstream. A blood test can detect its presence and help physicians assess the likelihood that a lung nodule is cancerous.
Does Stillwater Medical Center have an oncology team?
Yes. Stillwater Medical Center’s cancer center works in close collaboration with Dr. Roton’s pulmonology practice to ensure patients move quickly from diagnosis to treatment planning.
https://www.stillwater-medical.org/services-care/pulmonology/