November is lung cancer awareness month, which makes this a great time to talk about the Heritage Valley LungCare program. There are many reasons why your physician may refer you to Heritage Valley Pulmonology & Sleep Medicine and our LungCare program. Perhaps you recently had an x-ray or CT of your lungs that showed an abnormality, or you have a history of multiple lung infections. If you are a previous or current smoker, you may want to schedule a Low Dose CT Lung Cancer Screening. (More information below.) 

At Heritage Valley Pulmonology & Sleep Medicine, we see patients on a daily basis who have abnormal chest/lung imaging results. Fortunately, our comprehensive LungCare program staff is available to diagnose and treat these issues. Our providers have trained at university medical centers all over the country, and are able to provide the latest techniques, such as Robotic Bronchoscopy. Our goal is to ensure that every patient has the best possible outcome and experience, from screening through treatment. Patients are guided through the process by our compassionate LungCare Navigator, and have access to our experienced multidisciplinary physicians and clinical team. 

We strive to see new patients with abnormal test results within 48 business hours, and our wait times for procedures are much shorter than those at larger healthcare systems. This means that our patients receive answers and treatment more quickly. If cancer treatments are needed, Heritage Valley has a joint venture with the UPMC Hillman Cancer Center. Located on the Heritage Valley Beaver campus, the center provides patients with comprehensive care utilizing high-tech equipment and the most advanced cancer-fighting techniques. This provides patients with the type of high-quality cancer care once available only at major university medical centers.

Heritage Valley Pulmonology & Sleep Medicine has offices in both Heritage Valley Beaver and Heritage Valley Sewickley hospitals. Please call 724-773-6403 to schedule an appointment in Beaver or 412-749-7160 to schedule an appointment in the Sewickley office.

If you have questions regarding Heritage Valley’s LungCare program, please contact our LungCare Navigator at 724-773-2071 or click here for more information and to complete an online form.

According to the Lung Cancer Foundation of America, fewer than one in seven lung cancer patients will be diagnosed in the earliest stage, when the disease is most treatable. Screening for lung cancer for high-risk individuals using low-dose CT scans can lead to the earlier detection of lung cancer and ultimately save lives.

Heritage Valley offers Lung Cancer Screening as part of its LungCare program. A Low Dose CT Scan is a painless and noninvasive procedure that can detect very small nodules in the lung, and is especially effective for diagnosing lung cancer when it is in its earliest, most treatable stage. If any of the following apply, you should consider having a Low Dose Computed Tomography (CT) Lung Cancer Screening:

• You are 50 years of age, currently smoke or have quit smoking within the last 15 years
• You have a family history of lung cancer
• You have risk factors, such as prolonged exposure to asbestos or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
• You have a tobacco smoking history of at least 20 pack-years*

*To calculate pack-years, multiply the number of packs of cigarettes smoked a day by the number of years that you smoked.

To receive the full benefit of screening, you should be screened on an annual basis until you no longer meet the eligibility requirements.

Please see your physician for an order for a Low Dose CT Lung Cancer Screening, and call 1-866-901-IMAG (4624) to schedule your appointment. If you have questions, please contact our LungCare Navigator at 724-773-2071 or click here for more information.

According to the American Cancer Society, lung cancer is by far the leading cause of cancer deaths. We want to share news about an innovation that holds promise in the fight against lung cancer and is available at Heritage Valley Beaver. 

Dr. Katherine Chin, Dr. Perry Tiberio and Dr. Matthew Woodske of HVMG Pulmonology & Sleep Medicine use Robotic Bronchoscopy to find and treat lung disease. The robot has the capacity to reach areas of the lung that were often previously inaccessible, allowing our physicians to potentially detect lung cancer much sooner. And, the earlier cancer is detected, the more treatment plans are available.

By utilizing the Auris Health Monarch^TM Robotic Bronchoscopy Platform, Heritage Valley’s goal is to enable earlier and more accurate diagnosis of small and hard-to-reach nodules in the periphery of the lung. A thin tube, called a bronchoscope, is threaded through a patient’s mouth and into the lung. The physician uses the robot to guide the bronchoscope to the lung nodule to collect a tissue sample for testing. The technology integrates the latest advancements in robotics, software, data science and endoscopy, and combines traditional camera views with computer-assisted navigation. Earlier diagnosis with this minimally invasive approach will hopefully increase chances of survival from lung cancer and reduce unnecessary invasive diagnostic procedures.

This robotic platform allows Heritage Valley to provide state-of-the-art medical procedures in a community facility,” said Dr. Matthew Woodske. “When paired with our other technologies, we can give patients an accurate and safe diagnosis and treatment plan, and hopefully a better chance at a cure.”  

To learn more about Robotic Bronchoscopy, click here.

If you smoke, including e-cigarettes, the most important thing you can do to improve your health is to stop smoking. For information on smoking cessation, please contact:

National Network of Tobacco Cessation Quit Lines

1-800-QUIT NOW (1-800-784-8669)

American Cancer Society

1-800-227-2345

American Lung Association’s Freedom from Smoking

1-800-LUNGUSA (1-800-586-4872)