Lung cancer
Lung cancer is the second most common type of cancer in the United States. In 2019, there were 228 million cases diagnosed.
There are 3 types of lung cancer. Approximately 85% of cases are non-small cell lung cancer. These include carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, and large cell carcinoma. Small cell lung cancer affects around 10-15% of patients, while carcinoid tumors account for up to 5%.
Lung cancer symptoms
Unfortunately, lung cancer often presents symptoms late in most cases. This type of cancer is difficult to detect early due to the lack of symptoms, which is why the mortality rate is very high.
However, there are some possible symptoms, and it is recommended to seek medical attention if they occur:
- Persistent cough;
- Chest and back pain;
- Coughing up blood;
- Difficulty breathing;
- Sudden weight loss;
- Hoarseness;
- Chest pain.
Lung cancer treatment options
The treatment options chosen by the medical team will depend on the stage of the disease, whether it has spread to nearby lymph nodes, the patient’s age, and overall health. Based on these factors, the doctor may recommend surgery, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiofrequency ablation, radiotherapy, or a combination of these.
Surgery may be recommended, especially in the early stages of the disease. To understand surgical options, it is important for the patient to know that the lungs are divided into sections called lobes. After the procedure, it may be necessary to remove part of a lobe, an entire lobe, or even one of the lungs.
Traditional open surgery involves a long incision between the ribs, which are then opened to allow the doctor access to the affected area.
Minimally invasive surgery uses small incisions through which the surgeon inserts medical instruments along with a camera to perform the procedure. In video-assisted surgery, the doctor watches the intervention on a screen and uses long instruments, aided by a video camera that magnifies the working area.
da Vinci™ Robotic Surgery
The surgeon can use this technique for various types of interventions, such as lobectomy, wedge resection, or partial segmentectomy of a lung lobe, through a few small incisions. During the procedure, the doctor sits near the patient and operates using a console. The high-precision camera and instruments help the surgeon perform the operation at a high level.
Benefits
Studies suggest potential benefits of a lobectomy performed using the Da Vinci method:
- Possibly reduced complications;
- Shorter hospital stay;
- Possibly lower chances of conversion to open surgery.
da Vinci™ Center