Q&A: Combining diagnosis, staging, tumor localization and surgery into a minimally invasive procedure for lung cancer

For patients with early-stage lung cancer, the journey from diagnosis to treatment often involves multiple procedures spread across several weeks or even months. During that time, patients may undergo separate biopsies to confirm a diagnosis, additional tests to determine whether the cancer has spread, procedures to help surgeons locate difficult-to-find tumors and, finally, surgery to remove the cancer. Research suggests that these delays can affect outcomes, with longer intervals between diagnosis and treatment associated with higher rates of recurrence and lower survival.

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