Maryland's Health Matters - BWMC - Spring 2017 - 12

SPOTLIGHT:

After Robert Young

services, and Jay Menaker,

LUNG SCREENING
PROGRAM AT
UM BWMC

found the University of

MD, associate professor

Maryland, he connected

of surgery and medical

with Taliba Anderson, a

director of the lung resus-

lung-transplant administrative

citation unit, where Lia was

assistant, who quickly took

successfully cared for and

offered by the Tate Cancer Center at University

Lia's medical records into

listed for a lung transplant.

of Maryland Baltimore Washington Medical

Robert and their 18-

a transplant meeting to start

The low-dose lung cancer screening program

Center-part of the UM Cancer Network-evaluates

year-old daughter, Telia,

people considered at high risk of developing lung

took a separate flight to

cancer from smoking. This program helps catch

at the Dallas hospital walked

Baltimore and were soon in

lung cancer in its early, most treatable stages.

into Lia's room and handed

the Shock Trauma Center

To be a candidate for screening, you should:

Robert a stack of papers.

with Lia. With about 10

■ Be between ages 55 and 77

UMMC was going to take

doctors and nurses treating

■ Have no signs or symptoms of lung cancer

Lia with the goal of giving

Lia, Dr. Iacono pulled Robert

■ Have at least a 30 pack-year history

her a lung transplant.

and Telia into his office

the review process.
The very next day, a doctor

Lia was put on ECMO, the

for a chat.
"I bought into his confi-

machine that allows her lungs

(1 pack-year = smoking one pack per day
for one year; 1 pack = 20 cigarettes)
■ Be a current smoker or have quit

to rest, and three days later

dence. He was so confident

a special medical jet was

in what he could do," Robert

used to transport Lia from

says. "It boosted my morale,

low-dose CT technology. A CT technologist

Dallas to Baltimore.

because I was mentally gone."

performs the screening, and it takes less than

The key for Lia was to find

"I remember cold air

in the past 15 years
The screening CT is done using noninvasive,

15 minutes to complete. No bloodwork or

coming off the jet, siren

a donor with the same chest

sounds getting in the

size and blood type, and to

ambulance, then the next

use plasmapheresis to work

Scans with positive findings are further

thing I remember is everyone

around her high antibodies.

reviewed by a team of physicians at UM BWMC

in pink scrubs around me,"

Within 24 hours of arriving

comprised of pulmonologists, radiologists and

says Lia, who was uncon-

at UMMC, there was a match.

thoracic surgeons. Results are provided directly

The day after her transplant,

scious much of the time after
being put on life support.
She was transported

Lia woke up with severe chest
pain and didn't realize she had

intravenous contrast is needed.
A radiologist reviews all lung CT results.

to the referring physician to be discussed with
the patient. (A physician referral is required.)
Medicare and most private insurance

to the Lung Rescue Unit

gotten new lungs. Lia used her

companies cover the lung cancer screening CT.

in the R Adams Cowley

finger to draw lungs on her

Please check with your insurance provider to

Shock Trauma Center, led by

chest and gave the thumbs-

determine coverage.

Thomas Scalea, MD, FACS,

down sign. Robert shook his

MCCM, the Honorable

head, but Lia scrunched her

Francis X. Kelly Distinguished

face in disbelief. After reassur-

Professor of Trauma

ance that she did, in fact, have

Surgery, physician-in-chief

the surgery, tears rolled down

of the Shock Trauma Center

her face.
"Oh, my goodness,"

at University of Maryland
Medical Center, and UMMS

Lia said. "That's why my

system chief for critical care

chest hurts." 

12  MARYLAND'S HEALTH MATTERS

SCHEDULE YOUR SCREENING
To schedule your screening, call the Tate
Cancer Center's lung screening program
at 410-553-8150.

 
To watch a video about Lia's story, visit umm.edu/TexasMom.
http://www.umm.edu/TexasMom
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Maryland's Health Matters - BWMC - Spring 2017
