Sep 4, 2008 6:12 pm US/Eastern
Stand Up 2 Cancer: Detecting Lung Cancer
Lung cancer is the most common cancer worldwide
MIAMI (CBS4) ―
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Stand Up 2 Cancer is more than a televised fundraiser on Sept. 5th, it's a mass movement.
CBS
Use of a minimally invasive technique called endoscopy to detect lung cancer may be more effective than more complicated and invasive standard procedures.
Unfortunately, survival rates for lung cancer are low because the disease is often found once it has spread within the lung or to other organs. In an attempt to improve patient outcomes, a great deal of research has focused on lung cancer screening, diagnosis, and treatment.
Les Reeley, 62, went in for a checkup when his daughter and wife noticed he was constantly tired. After a number of tests, the Hollywood resident got the unexpected news. "They diagnosed me with small cell cancer of the left lung," said Reeley.
How Reeley was diagnosed is the real story.
Thoracic surgeon Dr. Mark Block with Memorial Cancer Institute used a less invasive approach called endoscopic ultrasound.
"They've put an ultrasound at the end of an endoscope. So in addition to seeing the inside, we can also see the ultrasound to see structures surrounding the area where the endoscope is placed," explained Dr. Block.
This is important because lung cancer can spread to the lymph nodes in the thoracic area. This procedure allows doctors to obtain a biopsy without surgery. But it's not the only benefit.
"The technology such as endoscopic ultrasound enables us to get this information sooner, with less morbidity, with less difficulty. So the patients are healthier when they begin their therapy and that leads to better results," added Dr. Block.
Quick and accurate results are critical to patients diagnosed with the deadliest form of cancer.
Interestingly, while it has the most fatalities, according to Dr. Block, lung cancer generates the least amount of research dollars.
He believes lung cancer has a stigma associated with it – mostly from people with less sympathy for those who knowingly smoke and are likely to contract the disease.
Dr. Block suggests what's needed is better detection and that's where the research dollars would help.
In the meantime, patients like Reeley can benefit from the endoscopic ultrasound.
"The benefits far outweigh any inconvenience, or I would say pain; there is none, so by all means have it done," encouraged Reeley.
The procedure takes a half hour if the patient is sedated, or about an hour and a half if the patient is awake.
Probably the biggest benefit is this allows patients who can't have surgery to get an answer about how much their cancer might have spread.
Raising awareness and funds for cancer research is the focus of Friday's Stand Up To Cancer special. CBS, along with NBC and ABC, will simultaneously devote one-hour of commercial-free prime time to raise funds for the fight against cancer. More than 60 celebrities are also participating in this unique mission.
During the show the stars will be on hand at the celebrity phone bank to take donation calls. Stand Up To Cancer will air on CBS4 on September 5th, beginning at 8 p.m.
If you want to find out more about the event and how to help, go to the website
standup2cancer.org.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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