Novant Health has unveiled revolutionary High-tech robotics equipment that could make early lung cancer detection possible, improving diagnostics and therapy outcomes for cancer patients.
As reported earlier by Charlotte Business Journal, the North Carolina-headquartered healthcare system has installed cutting-edge robotic equipment at its Agnes B. and Edward I. Weisiger Cancer Institute to help detect lung cancer at its early stages, increasing the likelihood of the patient’s survival.
This is a pivotal milestone in cancer detection and treatment as traditional technologies can detect lung cancer only at stage III or stage IV, making the patient’s survival next to impossible.
Novant’s less invasive biopsy tool, developed by California-based Intuitive Surgical, leverages lon robotic bronchoscopy technology, allowing better access to much smaller lung nodules that are often challenging to reach and difficult to biopsy and treat.
Juleidy Turnipseed, a thoracic oncology PA, told WCCB Charlotte that the robotic bronchoscopy probe features a small lumen and a catheter design that can effortlessly reach the peripheral outer parts of the lung, allowing healthcare professionals to better diagnose lung cancer early and administer curative treatment.
She emphasized that early detection and treatment could give early-stage cancer patients a chance to live a long life, considering the slim survival rate for many late-stage cancer patients, which is usually at 5%.
Turnipseed noted that state-of-the-art equipment can allow doctors to diagnose cancer at stage one, with a potential cure, instead of late-stage, when the cancer has already progressed and is almost impossible to cure. Additionally, prompt diagnosis allows patients to have peace of mind—whether they are diagnosed with benign or malignant.
Novant Health procured the revolutionary equipment using funds from Agnes B. Weisiger and Edward I. Weisiger Sr. and additional funds donated by Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center Foundation. It also received funds to develop Novatnt’s AI platform, which is set for launch later this year.
The technology is already in operation, with physicians at Novant Health using it for lung cancer screening since March 2024. With the revolutionary technology, the healthcare system is expected to diagnose and treat thousands of lung cancer patients at the health facility.
Why Lung Cancer is Difficult to Diagnose in the Early Stages
Lung cancer is one of the most common causes of cancer-related deaths in the United States, according to the American Cancer Society, and ranks second on the list of the most common cancers. Unlike other types of cancer which can be easily noticeable, lung cancer doesn’t show symptoms until it’s in the late stage, the society explained in an article about cancer detection and treatment.
A report published in BMJ Journal by the Thoracic Oncology Unit and the Institute for Lung Health, revealed that lung cancer can take up to 8 years for a squamous cell carcinoma to grow to a noticeable size (about 30nm) commonly diagnosed in most cancer centers, with about 80% of the patients exhibiting stage III or IV presentation. By the time the patient starts exhibiting the cancer symptoms, their risk of metastasis is always considerable.
Like any other type of cancer, lung cancer causes symptoms, though not instantly noticeable. This makes many people mistake it for other infections or problems resulting from long-term smoking, leading to delayed diagnosis and therapy until it’s in the late stage when symptoms are more pronounced.
