Early-stage lung cancer patients may benefit from minimally invasive surgery.

Despite increases in the number of people being screened for lung cancer and decreases in the number of cigarette smokers, lung cancer is the second most common cancer in men and women in the U.S.

“While there is no one solution for treating lung cancer, there are many options,” says Mark Botham, MD, a Cleveland Clinic thoracic and cardiovascular surgeon who treats patients at Hillcrest Hospital. “For those diagnosed with early-stage lung cancer, minimally invasive surgery provides the same quality as traditional open surgery, but with much less pain and faster recovery.”

Previously, the only way to remove part of a lung (lobectomy) was with open chest surgery (thoracotomy). That requires one large 6- to 8-inch incision in the chest between the ribs. Minimally invasive surgery usually requires just three 1-inch incisions. A thin tube with a camera is inserted through one of the incisions, while specialized tools are inserted through the other incisions to perform the operation.

According to Dr. Botham, most early-stage lung cancers can be treated with video-assisted or robotic thoracic surgery. But there are cases when open chest surgery is a better option, including those with a history of pulmonary infections or who have had previous open chest surgery, radiation to the chest or coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

“Minimally invasive surgery can be used in 80 to 90 percent of early-stage lung cancer patients. And it provides them with the added benefits of shorter hospital stays, less dependency on narcotic pain medication and a quicker return to normal activities,” says Dr. Botham.

If you’ve been diagnosed with lung cancer, talk to your surgeon about minimally invasive surgery, ask about his or her level of experience with it, and discuss your goals and expectations.

Be proactive – get screened! Lung cancer screenings can be scheduled at a Cleveland Clinic regional facility or at main campus. To find out if you are eligible, call 216.445.3800.