Lung Cancer Awareness Month: AtlantiCare’s Advanced Robotic Lung Surgery

When it comes to lung cancer, early detection and advanced treatment can mean the difference between uncertainty and survivorship. For two South Jersey patients, access to robotic lung surgery at AtlantiCare made that difference. Now, during Lung Cancer Awareness Month, their stories remind us why awareness, screening and innovation are so crucial.

Debbie’s Story: “I’m Healthy. I’m Cancer-Free.”

At 56, Debbie’s days are filled with family, five grandchildren with a sixth on the way. But a few months ago, her world shifted when a biopsy revealed a Stage 1 neuroendocrine tumor, an early form of lung cancer.

“I was shocked, but I wasn’t upset,” Debbie recalls. “The team made me feel so supported and comfortable. That made all the difference.”

After meeting with Dana J. McCloskey, MD, an AtlantiCare cardiothoracic surgeon, Debbie learned she was an ideal candidate for robotic thoracic surgery, a minimally invasive procedure with faster recovery, less pain and smaller incisions.

For Debbie, robotic thoracic surgery was the clear choice and just weeks later, she was back to her busy routine, cancer-free. She continues regular monitoring at AtlantiCare, supported by her care team and her family.

“Don’t ignore your gut. Catching it early saved my life,” said Debbie.

Patricia’s Story: “There’s Great Care Right Here.”

For Patricia, a yearly chest X-ray led to an unexpected discovery, a lung nodule later confirmed as adenocarcinoma, the most common type of non-small cell lung cancer.

A former smoker who had quit 25 years earlier, Patricia never expected to face a cancer diagnosis. Living in Cape May and worried about traveling far for treatment, she found reassurance close to home at AtlantiCare.

“Lung screening CT scans lower death from lung cancer by over 20%. It is estimated that annual lung cancer screening saves over 25,000 lives a year,” said Amit Borah, MD, an interventional pulmonologist at AtlantiCare.

Because her cancer was detected early, Dr. McCloskey was able to perform a robotic segmentectomy for Patricia, a technically advanced minimally invasive lung-sparing surgery that removed the tumor while preserving healthy lung tissue.

“This wasn’t as invasive, and I didn’t have a big scar,” Patricia said. “I was very happy with AtlantiCare. This was a scary thing, but the team explained everything and put me at ease.”

Patricia’s experience is proof that advanced, world-class cancer care is available right here in South Jersey. “I felt confident with AtlantiCare,” she said. “There’s great care right here.”

A Message for Lung Cancer Awareness Month

Through AtlantiCare Cancer Care Institute's affiliation with Cleveland Clinic Cancer Institute, patients have streamlined access to advanced research, clinical trials and nationally recognized expertise in cancer treatment and therapies.

Advances in treatment are also giving patients better outcomes. Robotic-assisted thoracic surgery offers minimally invasive procedures with faster recovery, less pain and smaller incisions. “Being able to provide this level of care close to home is a significant step forward for our patients,” said Dr. McCloskey. “That care doesn’t stop after surgery. We walk with patients through follow-ups, monitoring and survivorship.”

For Debbie and Patricia, early detection and access to robotic surgery meant returning to their families, their routines and their futures.

“Early detection means early diagnosis,” said Dr. Borah. “When we diagnose early, the goal of treatment is to cure the cancer, not just contain it.”

This Lung Cancer Awareness Month, their stories show advanced care is saving lives every day, right here at AtlantiCare.

Learn more about AtlantiCare's lung cancer screening and treatment programs.