Nicole Gay Shares How She Counsels Patients on Lung Cancer Screenings

In honor of lung cancer awareness month, for this episode of The Vitals, Nicole Gay, APRN-C, joins Oncology Nursing News to share how she counsels patients about lung cancer screening.

Gay is a nurse practitioner at the University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Clinic, and a nurse navigator for the clinic’s lung cancer screening program. In the conversation, she shares how she addresses patient fears and concerns around screening, helping them feel comfortable and confident in navigating their health.^1-6

Episode Highlights

“Lung cancer screening, unfortunately, has a bit of a stigma around it. Part of my job is reducing that stigma, making patients feel comfortable and relaying how important screening for lung cancer really is.”

“This is a low-dose CT scan. The amount of radiation they are getting is reduced when you compare it to a normal CT scan.”

“We are very grateful for the change in the guidelines. It really widened the pool of patients that can be screened.”

Online Articles

• How I Counsel Patients About Lung Cancer Screening
• Innovative Patient Education Strategies Continue to be Developed for Lung Cancer Screening
• Opinion: Cancer Screenings, Although Not Perfect, Remain Valuable
• Updates in Lung Cancer Screening Criteria Increase African American Patient Participation

Videos

• Johanna Garibaldi On Strengthening Cancer Prevention Tactics With Mobile Screening Clinics
• Confidence Is Key in Oncology Nurse Navigation

References

1. Lung cancer: screening. US Preventive Services Task Force. March 19, 2021. Accessed August 16, 2023. https://uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recommendation/lung-cancer-screening
2. Lung cancer screening billing guide. American Lung Association. Accessed August 30, 2023. https://www.lung.org/getmedia/bd0af1bf-1cd8-4fd0-9f8f-47e55c783448/ALA-Lung-Cancer-Screening-Billing-Guide-FINAL.pdf
3. Cancer facts and figures 2021. American Cancer Society. Accessed August 16, 2023. https://www.cancer.org/research/cancer-facts-statistics/all-cancer-facts-figures/cancer-facts-figures-2021.html
4. Lung nodules. American Cancer Society. Accessed August 16, 2023. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/lung-cancer/detection-diagnosis-staging/lung-nodules.html
5. Lung cancer screening. Mayo Clinic. February 11, 2022. Accessed August 30, 2023. https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/lung-cancer-screening/about/pac-20385024
6. Lung cancer screening: questions for the doctor. US Department of Health & Human Services. Updated May 26, 2023. Accessed August 18, 2023. https://health.gov/myhealthfinder/doctor-visits/talking-doctor/lung-cancer-screening-questions-doctor