November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the United States, and the rate of new lung cancer cases in Oklahoma is significantly higher than the national rate.
November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the United States, and the rate of new lung cancer cases in Oklahoma is significantly higher than the national rate.
Edie Tagmir Shelton, 67, of Del City is energetic, funny and radiates positivity and warmth. A retired registered nurse, she has always been mindful to prioritize her health. In March 2023, she decided to get a heart scan out of curiosity.
While her heart showed no signs of calcium deposits in her arteries, the scan incidentally revealed a lung nodule on her left upper lobe that was 16mm by 9 mm. This finding was particularly notable because the nodule had been observed on previous imaging conducted in 2018, but it had grown by 7 mm.
After receiving results from the heart scan, Edie underwent a PET (positron emission tomography) scan that showed increased metabolic activity. She was referred to Obaid Ashraf, M.D., a board-certified pulmonologist and critical medicine physician at INTEGRIS Health Medical Group Baptist Pulmonary Medicine.
“The nodule’s increase in size, combined with its atypical appearance, raised concerns for potential malignancy,” says Ashraf. “It was crucial for us to proceed with a biopsy to achieve a timely diagnosis.”
He performed a robotic navigational bronchoscopy – or ION procedure – which is a state-of-the-art, minimally invasive robotic system designed for precision navigation within the lungs.
“Unlike traditional bronchoscopy, which has limited reach in accessing peripheral areas where lung cancers may develop, the ION system enables the use of a highly flexible, steerable catheter that can reach deep into the lungs periphery,” says Ashraf. “Using ION is akin to driving a car with GPS navigation.”
The procedure revealed Edie had a typical carcinoid tumor, and Ashraf referred her to Daniel Freno, M.D., a cardiothoracic surgeon at INTEGRIS Health Cardiovascular Physicians Cardiothoracic Surgery Clinic.
“I didn’t have any symptoms. I’m not a smoker, I eat a healthy diet and live an active lifestyle,” she says. “I encourage everyone to get preventive screenings. It’s so important.”
Edie traveled to Lake Eufaula for the weekend to relax and process the diagnosis with her family. “I just remember saying that I wanted to be on other side of this mountain,”
she states. “The next week, I received a call from Dr. Freno’s office to proceed with surgery.”
She looked up Freno’s credentials and thought his photo looked familiar. In discussing the referral with her adult children, they realized that he had grown up in Del City and attended school with her twin sons.
“We’ve known him for many years, which helped us feel more comfortable and at ease about the surgery,” Edie states. “God had all that planned. He took care of me.”
She underwent a robotic lobectomy, a procedure where an entire lobe of the lung is removed. With the robotic system, small instruments are used to enter the chest through several tiny incisions. Edie’s hospital stay was than less 72 hours.
“My recovery went well, and I feel better now than I have in years,” she says. “I have faith in God’s presence in my life and couldn’t have asked for a better care team. Freno and Ashraf were both so encouraging, positive and comforting from start to finish.”
Her current prognosis is promising, as there have been no signs of recurrence. Though she does have a few other lung nodules, Ashraf says they are monitored closely for any signs of growth.
“Edie truly exemplifies someone who prioritizes her health in all the right ways,” states Ashraf. “It’s a privilege to have a patient like her, who serves as a true role model, taking every step thoughtfully and conscientiously.”
Although smoking is the main cause of lung cancer, lung cancer in non-smokers accounts for approximately 10 to 20% of all lung cancer cases.
Patients are encouraged to contact their primary care physician to discuss lung cancer screening and assess their individual risk factors. Additionally, they may reach out to the INTEGRIS Health Pulmonary Lung Nodule Navigator at 405-951-8531. This service provides comprehensive evaluation of lung cancer risk, support with smoking cessation strategies and further assessment of lung nodules. Early engagement with health care professionals is vital, as is proactive screening and timely intervention.
Whether you are looking to find a physician to support you with a chronic illness, or you simply need to make a change in your primary care doctor, you want a physician you can trust and who is close to home. At INTEGRIS Health you get both.
