MercyOne patients now benefit from same-day procedure to diagnose and treat lung cancer

Clive, Iowa; May 9, 2023– Imagine being diagnosed with lung cancer and having the tumor surgically removed on the same day. Patients at MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center can now benefit from a same-day procedure that diagnoses and treats lung cancer during the same anesthesia session.

“We are the first hospital in the region to combine the use of the Ion robot for minimally invasive bronchoscopy for early lung cancer detection with same-day robotic thoracic surgery to remove lung tumors and saving patients precious time,” said Dr. Blair Westerly, MercyOne Des Moines Pulmonary & Critical Care. “We performed our first procure on April 24, 2023, with a multi-disciplinary approach with MercyOne colleagues Dr. Bradley Wilcox and Dr. Shrey Velani assisting me along with Dr. Joseph Mitros in pathology and Dr. Ali Alameri, cardiothoracic surgeon, completing the robotic thoracic resection.”

Combining early diagnosis with same-day surgery for lung cancer is a win for patients. Previously this process of diagnosis and treatment could take several weeks – a critical time when cancer can continue to grow, and patients can experience increased anxiety about their health and prognosis.

“This combined therapy of diagnosis and surgical removal of the tumor at the same time offers new hope for patients with lung cancer,” said Dr. Alameri, MercyOne Iowa Heart cardiothoracic surgeon. “Removing a cancerous tumor in the lung, when possible, is key to advancing the opportunity for improved outcomes for these patients. The earlier we can remove the cancer, the sooner we can help our patients with any additional therapies they may need to move forward with their life.”