New robotic technology detects lung cancer in early stages

BOWLING GREEN, Ky.- Lung cancer rates have lowered by 9% within the past years, according to lung.org.  Studies also show that new lung cancer rates are 84.1% in Kentucky, which is higher than the national rate. 

The Da Vinci Surgical System, developed by Intuitive, allows surgeons to perform minimally invasive procedures with greater precision, often resulting in smaller incisions and shorter recovery times for patients.

On Monday, Med Center welcomed Intuitive to showcase the technology and introduce the community to its new lung program. Doctors say this can help lower lung cancer rates.

“Twenty to 25 percent of patients smoke. Unfortunately, that means a lot of patients have lung cancer. This clinic where we see all those patients, what it does is it helps us get them to a program quicker, so there is a surgeon there and a pulmonologist. This helps us get them to surgery or plans to get them to whatever treatment quicker,” said Dr. Rajeev, a cardiothoracic surgeon with Med Center Health.

The machines have tiny clamps at the end that each play a different role in surgery. From removing tumors in bronchial tubes to detecting cancer cells that the eye cannot see, the new cutting-edge technology is a breakthrough in the medical field, Rajeev said.

If you or anyone you know would like to sign up for Med Center’s lung program, you can visit its website or speak to your primary care physician for a referral.