Find a pulmonary specialist
Concerned about the health of your lungs? Our pulmonologists can help detect and treat lung nodules and lung cancer.
How lung nodule surveillance works
Discovering a lung nodule
Sometimes, unexpected things happen. A lung nodule is one of them. These small spots can be found by chance during a routine checkup, like a CT scan for another reason. It might be surprising to hear about, but most lung nodules are non-cancerous.
Nodules can be caused by old infections, scarring, or other benign conditions. However, it’s important to get them checked out. Our expert team will recommend the best way to monitor the nodule and may suggest additional tests to learn more about it.
Understanding next steps
To learn more about the nodule, your navigator may suggest:
- Imaging tests - like a PET scan to get a clearer picture of the nodule.
- Regular check-ups - to monitor the nodule over time.
- Biopsy - to determine if the nodule is benign or cancerous. This might involve a bronchoscopy.
- Blood tests - to gather more information about your overall health.
- Treatment options - which might include surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, or a combination.
Our multi-disciplinary team of experts is here to support you throughout this process.
Benefits for patients
Better outcomes
Early detection, quick specialist appointments, and prompt treatment can improve your chances of successful recovery.
Personalized care
Your treatment plan is tailored to your specific needs. We work closely with you to make decisions together.
Dedicated support
A nurse navigator will guide you through every step, from scheduling appointments to understanding your care.
lung nodule program in depth
Lung nodule program
The two most common ways patients come to our program are:
- A low dose chest CT via our Lung Cancer Screening Program with a resulting score, called a Lung RAD, ranging from 3 to 4
- A chest x-ray result of an “incidental” finding of concern, which is communicated to your physician. Your physician will then refer you to a specialist in our program for a consultation to develop a diagnosis, testing and treatment plan.
Regardless of how you come to our program, upon referral a nurse navigator will call you and briefly review your diagnosis or test results. The nurse navigator will facilitate scheduling your consultation with a pulmonology specialist.
Your test results will be reviewed by a pulmonary specialist. During your consultation the specialist will create a “next steps” plan with you, which may include further testing and procedures to refine your diagnosis and develop a treatment plan individualized to you.
Our nurse navigator remains involved throughout your journey, assisting with education and information, helping to schedule tests, and, most importantly, offering assistance and support.