SMH Cancer Team Combines Outreach and AI to Catch Lung Cancer Earlier

January 17, 2025 | Sarasota

All too often, lung cancer is diagnosed too late, when it is difficult to treat. The overall five-year survival rate is just 20.5%.

But SMH lung cancer specialists are helping people beat those odds with an aggressive detection program catching early-stage lung cancer at double the rate achieved in most health systems across the nation.

“More than half of our lung cancer patients are being detected in stage I or II, when we have the best chance of treating and curing them,” said Joseph Seaman, associate chief medical officer at Sarasota Memorial Health Care System and medical director of SMH’s lung cancer screening program. “Much of that is due to our multi-prong approach to not only educate and screen high-risk patients, but also proactively look for suspicious nodules in other imaging scans and chest x-rays patients complete at SMH.”

SMH has long urged high-risk smokers and ex-smokers to begin annual screenings with low-dose CT scans, but in recent years, the lung team began leveraging innovative AI software developed by Eon to help radiologists detect suspicious nodules in imaging studies. These suspicious findings are often described as ‘incidental’ as they are found on scans completed for separate reasons. By combining lung cancer screening with an incidental findings program, SMH is able to spot more potential cancers, regardless of the patient’s entry point into the health system.

SMH was honored by Eon’s Center of Excellence division in November for its comprehensive early detection efforts and for diagnosing more than half of its lung cancer patients (57.6%) in the most treatable Stage I or II phase. That is more than double the state and national average of 24.9% and 26.6%, respectively, the company noted.

“We are thrilled to recognize Sarasota Memorial for their outstanding commitment to early cancer detection,” said Dr. Scott Skibo, Chief Medical Officer of Eon. “Their data-driven approach and devotion to patient care have positioned them as a leader in lung cancer screening and incidentals, offering a model for other health systems across the nation.”

SMH lung cancer screenings have nearly doubled since SMH expanded its detection program in 2019 and introduced Eon’s AI software. Patients whose “incidental” findings indicate they have a potentially “high risk” nodule are urged to begin annual low-dose CT (computed tomography) screenings for lung cancer, said Amie Miller, ARNP, coordinator of SMH’s lung cancer screening program.

“Catching lung cancer early greatly increases the patient’s chances that it can be treated and even cured,” Miller said. “And if we can diagnose lung cancer at the earliest stages, it’s going to make a huge impact.”

What You Should Know About Lung Cancer Screenings:
Just like annual mammograms, lung cancer screening should be seen as a yearly necessity, for those who qualify. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the United States, claiming roughly as many lives each year as prostate, colon and breast cancer combined.

Who Qualifies For Lung Cancer Screening?
The United States Preventive Services Task Force recommends annual screening for lung cancer with Low Dose CT in adults aged 50 to 80 years who have a 20 pack-year smoking history, and currently smoke or have quit within the past 15 years. A pack-year is an expression of the amount of cigarettes smoked per day and the number of years the person smoked. The equation is essentially, “Packs Per Day x Years Smoked = Pack Years.” So smoking a whole pack a day for a single year would be one (1) pack-year. And smoking two packs a day for one year would be two pack-years. And so on.

Screenings should be done only at facilities that offer low-dose CT scanners and have a team of specialists experienced in lung cancer screening who provide comprehensive follow-up care needed by patients with abnormal results. Sarasota Memorial is designated as a Lung Cancer Screening Center of Excellence by the Lung Cancer Alliance and a Lung Cancer Screening Center by the American College of Radiology. The designations recognize facilities that have committed to practice safe, effective diagnostic care for individuals at the highest risk for lung cancer.