Northridge Hospital Medical Center
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in both men and women in the United States. Northridge Hospital offers a multidisciplinary team approach to lung cancer. The Lung Screening Program is capable of detecting cancer even before noticeable symptoms appear. Specialists from all relevant medical departments collaborate to ensure the best possible treatment plan that is individually tailored to each patient.
A chance for early detection. A path to better lung health. Northridge Hospital’s Lung Cancer Screening Program provides a crucial opportunity for eligible patients to catch lung cancer early. Our program coordinator will work with your primary care physician to offer seamless, supportive care from screening to follow up, ensuring your well being.
Find out if you're a candidate by calling Arpine Shahinian, Nurse Practitioner, at (818) 700-5686.
If you are a former or current smoker or you have other lung cancer risk factors, regular screening is the best way to detect disease. Lung Cancer symptoms often don’t appear until the cancer is advanced. A screening for lung cancer can detect cancer long before symptoms start, allowing your care team to deliver timely life saving treatments.
Ask your doctor about getting a lung screening if you meet the criteria:
Discovering a nodule (a small spot) on your lung does not automatically mean you have lung cancer. In fact, most nodules are non-cancerous and harmless. If you have a nodule, we will closely monitor it following national guidelines.
If a nodule appears suspicious for cancer, we will partner with your primary physician to quickly connect you with a lung specialist. Further tests will be conducted to determine if lung cancer is present. Our nurse navigator will serve as a resource and assist you through the process.
To ensure your ongoing lung health, we'll continue your annual screening scans as long as you meet the high-risk criteria.This is important because even if you have a negative scan, it does not mean that you are no longer at risk for developing lung cancer. It is important to receive follow-up care annually.
Lung cancer screening with a low-dose CT scan is like your lung's annual check-up! For eligible individuals, it's recommended every year to catch any changes as early as possible.
The special low-dose CT scan used for lung cancer screening uses about the same amount of radiation as a mammogram, making it a safe and effective way to look closely at your lungs.
Interventional Pulmonology is a newer subspecialty that uses highly specialized, minimally invasive diagnostic and therapeutic techniques for patients with lung cancer, airway disorders and pleural diseases. This branch of medicine has produced important new techniques that allow doctors to diagnose and treat chest and lung diseases less invasively — often reducing the number of procedures needed and their associated risk of complications. An interventional pulmonologist will receive a referral from a primary care physician or other specialist and collaborates with physicians practicing medical oncology, radiation oncology, and thoracic surgery as needed. Our specialists offer specialized care that allows you to breathe easier.
Interventional pulmonology techniques can help diagnose central and peripheral lung nodules or masses, stage mediastinal lung cancer, and detect centrally located lung cancers early. Therapeutic uses include specialized procedures used to treat asthma, early stage lung cancer, central airway obstruction of benign or malignant origin, hemoptysis, persistent broncho-pleural fistulas, and placement of fiducial markers for stereotactic body radiation therapy.
Collectively, the procedures we offer allow us to:
We offer a multidisciplinary approach for our patients at Northridge Hospital. We provide comprehensive pleural care and have skilled specialists, knowledgeable about numerous advanced bronchoscopy procedures. We encourage you to learn all you can about your disease so you can partner with us in treating and managing your condition.
Conditions we treat include:
Most patients are referred to an interventional pulmonologist when their doctor suspects a more complex lung or breathing disorder. If you have persistent pain, coughing, wheezing or shortness of breath, visit your primary care doctor. Your doctor can help you determine if a referral is needed.
Note: Sudden chest pain and trouble breathing may be signs of a life-threatening issue — please call 9-1-1 or visit the emergency department right away.
A dedicated phone line for easy access to interventional pulmonology information is coming soon. Please check back for updates.
