Here's how Nebraska doctors are finding 'more opportunities to save lives' from lung cancer

Nationally, the lung cancer survival rate has improved 26% in the last five years — to 28.4% — due to increased awareness and advances in detection and treatment, according to the American Lung Association’s 2024 State of Lung Cancer report, released Tuesday.

“I actually tell patients this is a good time to be alive for lung cancer, because we have really good options,” said Dr. Karin Trujillo, a thoracic surgeon with Methodist Physicians Clinic.

Methodist, which also has focused on screening and finding tumors that show up on scans for other conditions, will surpass 3,000 exams this year for the first time since its screening program began. The health system projects an 85% return rate this year for patients, above the national average of less than 50%.

Omaha World-Herald: Here's how Nebraska doctors are finding 'more opportunities to save lives' from lung cancer