Page 19 - MidWeek - Oct 26, 2022

OCTOBER 26, 2022 MIDWEEK 19
November is Lung Cancer Awareness month, and with that coming right around the cor- ner, Hawai‘i Pacific Health Medical Center pulmonolo- gist Dr. Eric Crawley seeks to enlighten the public about the deadly illness.
DR. ERIC CRAWLEY, Hawai‘i Pacific Health pulmonologist at Pali Momi Medical Center Interviewed by Don Robbins
Taking The Fight To Lung Cancer
on this disease.
Here’s what else Crawley
dous problem in Hawaiʻi and worldwide. It is the No. 1 can- cer killer of men and women and kills more Americans than breast, colon and prostate can- cer combined. However, there is hope. We can dramatically reduce lung cancer deaths by reducing risk factors, includ- ing smoking, and by identify- ing cancer at an early and more curable stage. Early detection increases survival and cure rates. Lung cancer patients of- ten do not feel the effects until the cancer is advanced and has spread.
cancer. It is very important to me to spend time sitting down with every patient to review the pictures and talk them through any concerns. Many factors are reviewed, including smoking history, the appearance of the spot on the CT, family history and oth- er variables to come up with an estimate of risk. Then we decide how to proceed. Some- times that entails a second scan in three to six months, other times it is a biopsy procedure. Fortunately, most lung nodules are not cancerous and do not need to be biopsied.
robotic platforms, as well as ultrasound probes on camer- as, there are very few nodules we can’t safely biopsy in the lung with minimal discomfort for patients.
Are there any other messag- es you want people to know about lung cancer?
People should know that at Hawaiʻi Pacific Health and our peer systems, cancer patients are treated by a team of professionals — chest sur- geons, radiation oncologists, medical oncologists, pulmo- nologists, pharmacists, nurse navigators and many others. These are bright people who are always seeking creative solutions. My oncology col- leagues keep finding new and less toxic ways to treat lung cancer. Treatment plans are tailored to the actual DNA of the patient’s tumor, which al- lows for more focused therapy and a higher probability of suc- cess. There are a lot of reasons to be hopeful and to screen for this potentially curable cancer.
Crawley, who specializes in minimally invasive ways to screen for the disease, has more than 25 years of expe- rience having joined Hawai‘i Pacific Health in 2015. He’s also an assistant clinical pro- fessor at University of Ha- wai‘i’s John A. Burns School of Medicine, and is currently based at Pali Momi Medical Center.
We diagnose and treat lung conditions, which cause coughing, shortness of breath, chest pain. We also identify the cause of abnormal findings on chest imaging, like lung nod- ules, or spots, masses or scar- ring. Many of us also take care of sleep apnea and other sleep disorders.
Dr. Eric Crawley is a Hawai‘i Pacific Health pulmonologist at Pali Momi Medical Center. PHOTOS COURTESY HAWAI‘I PACIFIC HEALTH
ify for free annual screenings at age 50 instead of 55. These changes mean many more peo- ple — especially women and minorities, who may smoke less but are often at higher risk of lung cancer — are eligible for screening.
Crawley notes that lung cancer continues to be a con- cern in Hawai‘i. The Ameri- can Lung Association ranks Hawai‘i sixth highest in the nation when it comes to the number of new cases diag- nosed every year. However, Crawley emphasizes that screening, treatment and hope are improving for the outlook
Most patients come to find solutions for common symp- toms like shortness of breath or coughing. Many are re- ferred for more insight on find- ings from their chest X-rays or computerized tomography (CT) scans such as a nodule.
This is extremely important to share. Federal regulations do require insurance plans to cover screenings, with a few exceptions, if you meet the age and smoking history cri- teria. Recently the U.S. Pre- ventive Services Task Force recommended reducing both requirements. People can qual-
What happens when a pa- tient has a screening CT and something is found?
Technology has advanced very quickly in the past five to 10 years, giving us new and less invasive options. My passion has been finding ways to perform biopsies that are as painless and minimal- ly invasive as possible. With the use of navigational and
had to say about his duties and the nature of lung cancer.
What do you do as a pulm- onologist?
What treatments are your patients typically seeking?
Recently, the criteria for who can be screened for lung can- cer has changed. What does that mean for patients?
What are minimally invasive cancer confirmation options available to people in Ha- wai‘i?
What should people know about lung cancer?
Understandably, most are very worried that finding something means they have
Lung cancer is a tremen-
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