11/20/2025
During a 2023 checkup at Saint Luke’s Primary Care in Lee’s Summit, Bill’s nurse practitioner suggested he get a low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) lung cancer screening based on his smoking history to rule out the possibility of cancer.
“I was surprised the nurse suggested the scan,” Bill says. “She knew the latest guidelines for lung cancer screening, so I was fortunate for her. I’d say she saved my life.”
While Bill no longer smokes, his 40 years of smoking made him an ideal candidate for the non-invasive LDCT scan. The screening, which is more detailed than a standard X-ray, can find cancer in its infancy when it is easiest to remove.
The scan revealed a small growth on Bill’s left lung, which led to further tests with Dr. Vincent Lem, a pulmonary specialist at Saint Luke's Cancer Institute, who recommended a biopsy. The biopsy results confirmed the presence of cancer.
Led by Dr. Michael Gibson, a cardiothoracic surgeon, Bill’s surgical team performed a robotic left upper lobectomy and mediastinal lymph node dissection, which removed the affected area of his lung.
“As a practice, we prefer to perform all lung cancer surgeries from a robotic, minimally invasive platform,” Dr. Gibson says. “We've done almost 2,000 surgeries combined between three surgeons, which helps us treat patients while shortening their hospital stays, resulting in fewer complications.”
The procedure was a success, and Bill did not require additional treatments, such as chemotherapy or immunotherapy.
Now two years removed from the surgery, Bill undergoes follow-up CT scans and X-rays every six months at Saint Luke's Hospital of Kansas City to monitor his condition.
Read Bill’s full story: https://heyor.ca/ShO1Qy
