Early Cancer Detection ‘Truly Does Save Lives,’ Says Huntington Cancer Center Award Winner

Only one percent of eligible Californians receive screening for lung cancer, the second most common cancer in the United States and leading cause of cancer deaths, health officials report.

Early screening is especially crucial because lung cancer symptoms can be mistaken for infections or “smoker’s cough,” and typically don’t appear until the disease is advanced.

The American Cancer Society recommends yearly screening for individuals aged 50 to 80 with a significant smoking history of at least 20 pack-years – meaning a pack a day for 20 years or two packs a day for 10 years – through low-dose CT scans.

“Early detection truly does save lives,” said Christine Conti, a nurse navigator for Huntington Cancer Center and recipient of the 2024 Lung Cancer Support Group Facilitator Award.

“The work of nurse navigators such as Christine Conti is a key part of efforts by Cedars-Sinai Cancer and our affiliates to improve lung cancer screening rates throughout our community,” said Sara Ghandehari, director of the Centralized Lung Cancer Screening Program at Cedars-Sinai.

The screening process involves patients lying still for a quick CT scan that creates detailed three-dimensional lung images while using 35 percent less radiation than standard chest scans.

If screening results are positive, a team of specialists develops personalized treatment plans based on the staging of the disease, overall health status, lung function, and patient preferences.

“For early-stage lung cancer, primary surgical removal might be offered,” said Amirhossein Mahfoozi, director of thoracic surgery at Huntington Health, an affiliate of Cedars-Sinai, noting that some patients require chemotherapy or immunotherapy before or after surgery.

Huntington Health serves one of the most diverse regions globally, home to Latino, Asian American, Black and LGBTQIA+ communities at especially high risk for lung cancer.

In early 2025, Huntington Health plans to introduce Intuitive Ion robotic bronchoscopy technology, allowing diagnosis and cancer removal under single anesthesia during the same day.

The health system offers support group meetings at 10 a.m. the second Wednesday via Microsoft Teams for patients, caregivers and family members, led by Conti, who has spent 12 years working with the lung cancer community.

To learn more about Huntington Health’s Cancer Treatment program, visit https://www.huntingtonhealth.org/our-services/cancer-treatment/.