Lung Nodule Program
Our Approach
We understand that a lung cancer diagnosis can be overwhelming, so our team is here to provide not only expert care but also compassion and support every step of the way. The sooner lung cancer is found, the better the chances are for treatment. This is why we’re focused on early detection by offering low-dose CT lung screenings and ion robotic-assisted bronchoscopies with our Lung Nodule program.
Using advanced technology like the Ion robotic-assisted platform, we can perform minimally invasive biopsies on lung nodules with greater comfort and accuracy. Our Lung Nodule program combines cutting-edge technology with a patient-centered approach to ensure the best possible outcomes. From diagnosis to survivorship, we prioritize seamless coordination and innovative therapies to provide the highest quality of care.
Lung cancer screenings are the best way to detect lung cancer at the earliest stage. During a screening, the clinician tries to determine if your lung has any nodules.
Lung nodules, or pulmonary nodules, are small spots that appear in the lung. Typically, they’re smaller than three centimeters in diameter. Most are harmless and benign, but some can be an early sign of lung cancer.
Before the screening, you’ll meet with a physician assistant who’ll explain the process. If you don’t have a primary care physician, we can help you establish care with one. Once a screening has been approved, our schedulers will work with you to find a convenient appointment time.
Providence follows National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines. Those guidelines indicate lung cancer screening is recommended for patients in the high-risk groups outlined below.
To confirm you’re eligible for lung cancer screening, call the number above. Our caregivers will work with your primary care physician to order the screening exam.
An annual lung screening is recommended for people who are:
- 50 to 80 years of age
- Have a 20 pack-year smoking history
- Currently smoke or have quit smoking within the past 15 years
Adults that fit the above conditions face a dramatically higher risk of developing lung cancer or other lung diseases. Additional risk factors include:
- Family history of lung cancer
- Exposure to asbestos, radon, arsenic or other carcinogens
Contact us to schedule a lung screening or to connect you with a primary care physician if your insurance requires a referral.
The screening scan is fast and painless. It’s a low-dose CT scan, meaning it uses 75% less radiation than standard CT scans.
The scan creates a 3D-image of your lung with more detail than a standard chest X-ray. Low-dose CT screenings can detect even small abnormalities and are considered the gold standard in finding lung cancer at its earliest, most curable stage.
You’ll typically receive your results a week after your scan. A Providence caregiver will contact you to review them together. Your primary care physician also receives the results and may contact you to discuss next steps if necessary.
If you’ve been diagnosed with a lung nodule, our patient navigator team is here to guide and support you through the next steps and coordination of any needed services. The diagnostic images are carefully reviewed by a team of experts, who then create a personalized treatment plan which may include monitoring, biopsy or treatment.
You can view more resources under our Patients and Visitors page, including:
Ion Robotic-Assisted Bronchoscopy
Our goal at Providence St. Peter Hospital is to expedite diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer to save lives.
Providence’s Lung Nodule Program is supported by Ion Robotic-Assisted Bronchoscopy. This innovative nonsurgical tool uses navigational technology to biopsy lung nodules with extreme precision, allowing a quicker recovery time and earlier results.
We’re proud to be one of the few medical centers in Washington offering Ion Robotic-Assisted Bronchoscopy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Most private health plans, Medicaid and Medicare cover lung cancer screening. Specifically, private health plans and Washington State Medicaid (Washington Apple Health) cover lung cancer screening for eligible individuals ages 55 to 80. Medicare covers lung cancer screening for eligible individuals ages 55 to 77. Most follow-up care required after the exam is covered by your insurance or Medicare or Medicaid.
We recommend contacting your insurance carrier to check your coverage.
Tobacco smoking is the biggest risk factor for lung cancer. Quitting smoking is hard but Providence is here to help. From medications to support groups and beyond, we can help you quit.
Visit our Support Groups page for more information and current schedule, and view additional resources below:
- Freedom from Smoking Program from the American Lung Association
- Lung HelpLine & Tobacco QuitLine from the American Lung Association
- Call 800-LUNG-USA (800-586-4872) or visit www.lung.org/quit-smoking
- Smokefree.gov
Breathe easy. You’re in great hands. The board-certified specialists at Providence Regional Cancer System and our broader Providence team provides comprehensive and integrated care through our Lung Nodule Program.
This program offers state-of-the-art diagnostics using Ion Robotic-Assisted Bronchoscopy, one of the most accurate lung nodule biopsy platforms, as well as innovative treatments with the da Vinci robotic surgery system – one of the most effective tools in treating lung cancer.
A pack-year is used to describe how many cigarettes you have smoked in your lifetime, with a pack equal to 20 cigarettes. If you have smoked a pack a day for the last 20 years, or two packs a day for the last 10 years, you have 20 pack-years. In other words, pack-years is a way to measure smoking exposure, taking into account how long you have smoked, and how much you have smoked.