Published on May. 29, 2026
Patty never expected that the simple act of moving would eventually lead to the discovery of lung cancer. For decades, smoking was part of Patty’s daily life. She grew up in an era when smoking was widely accepted, and it was common to see people light up a cigarette in restaurants, movie theaters, and even on airplanes. That was just the norm at the time.
“When I was growing up, you could smoke everywhere,” Patty recalled. “That’s just what people did and it was a habit I picked up.”
When Quitting Felt Out of Reach
But in July 2024, Patty moved into a new apartment that didn’t allow smoking. The constant need to step outside whenever she wanted a cigarette quickly became exhausting. Realizing how challenging this was – not just physically, but emotionally – she decided it might be time to seek support and explore options to help her quit.
Upon her research, she learned about the “Freedom from Smoking” Program provided by the Lung Screening Program at MemorialCare Long Beach Medical Center. The Freedom from Smoking Program is an eight group-style meeting that features a step-by-step plan to help tobacco users gain control over their behavior to quit smoking. Each meeting is hosted virtually by a lung nurse navigator and a certified instructor from the American Lung Association.
Intrigued, Patty got connected with the program and began taking the steps to quit smoking. However, with a busy personal life and getting settled into a new home, Patty decided that the time to quit smoking just wasn’t right.
Not Ready to Quit Yet, But Saw Value in Annual Screening
Before she left the Freedom from Smoking program, Kathryn “Kitty” Campuzano, BSN, RN, OCN, lung nurse navigator, made sure to at least get Patty set up with yearly lung screenings at the Lung Screening Program at Long Beach Medical Center as a protective measure.
The Lung Screening Program is unique in that it combines advanced screening and diagnostic technology, paired with close clinical navigation every step of the way. The Lung Screening Program uses low-dose CT scans to detect lung cancer at its earliest and most treatable stages – often before symptoms appear. Screenings take only about 20–30 seconds, requires no intravenous contrast, and can identify stage I lung cancer in up to 85% of cases—often before any symptoms appear. The testing is recommended for high‑risk individuals ages 50–80, who currently smoke or quit within the past 15 years and have a 20-pack-year smoking history.
“After my initial lung screening in May 2023, nothing was found,” said Patty. “So, I went on with my life. And while I did decide to continue to smoke, I did stay diligent about my yearly lung screenings.”
Another Year, Another Screening
Then in June 2024, Patty went to her second annual lung screening, where the scan revealed a small lung nodule. Also known as a pulmonary nodule, this is a small mass of tissue in the lungs that is typically benign, though it can represent the early stages of lung cancer.
Following the American College of Radiology’s Lung-RADS guidelines, Patty’s initial lung nodule was considered low risk based on its size and appearance on imaging. Under these nationally recognized standards, small nodules that do not show suspicious features or growth are safely monitored with routine imaging rather than biopsied, as invasive testing is not recommended when the likelihood of cancer is very low.
With no immediate action required beyond continued surveillance, Patty resumed her life while remaining committed to her annual lung screenings, an evidence-based approach designed to track any changes over time.
A Lifesaving Recommendation
When 2025 rolled around, in the months leading up to her lung screening Patty called Kitty about whether she really needed to come in for her lung screening. While she was still smoking, she wasn’t experiencing any symptoms such as coughing or shortness of breath.
Kitty still urged Patty to come in to ensure they kept up with close monitoring of the nodule they found last year. Kitty reinforced that lung cancer often develops without early warning signs and that yearly screening is critical for identifying subtle changes that cannot be felt or noticed.
After speaking with Kitty, Patty agreed that it was worthwhile investing in her lung health.
In June 2025, Patty went in for her yearly screening, which showed that the previously noted nodule had increased in size compared to the prior year.
Based on ACR Lung-RADS criteria, this growth elevated the level of concern and shifted the approach from routine monitoring to further diagnostic evaluation. The change in size—rather than symptoms—signaled the need for additional testing, ultimately leading to biopsy and an early diagnosis.
Luckily in 2025, Long Beach Medical Center introduced the Galaxy System, an advanced diagnostic technology that gave Patty’s care team a more precise, minimally invasive pathway to biopsy the growing nodule and move quickly toward an early diagnosis.
Advanced Technology Confirms an Early Diagnosis
The Galaxy System helps physicians more precisely reach and biopsy small, hard-to-access nodules. As the first hospital in the greater Long Beach region to offer this FDA-cleared technology, Long Beach Medical Center combines robotic bronchoscopy with integrated tomosynthesis, real-time lesion location updates and a single-use disposable bronchoscope—helping physicians navigate the lungs with greater accuracy when every millimeter matters.
With the Galaxy System, Patty’s care team not only biopsied the lung nodule they had been closely tracking but also evaluated for any additional nodules with greater precision. It reflects the kind of advanced, academic-level lung diagnostics often found at major medical centers—available right here in the Long Beach community.
“The Galaxy System allowed us to accurately guide robotic tools to Patty’s lung nodule, making it possible to safely reach a small, difficult‑to‑access area and collect enough tissue for testing. After the procedure, the biopsy sample was sent to pathology, where it was confirmed to be stage I lung cancer. The system’s accuracy and real‑time imaging played an important role in making this early diagnosis.”
- Jimmy Johannes, M.D., pulmonologist, Lung Screening Program, Long Beach Medical Center
Because of the Galaxy System and Patty’s annual diligence, her lung cancer was caught at stage I—only 25 to 30% of lung cancer is found at this early stage—when treatment is most successful. Most diagnoses occur later, after symptoms appear and the disease has already progressed.
“I didn’t see it coming,” Patty said. “I felt completely numb and totally confused. Luckily, I had Kitty by my side to guide me through.”
Even though Patty’s cancer was caught extremely early, she was still shocked and processing the diagnosis, especially since her sister passed away from lung cancer. Suddenly, Patty found herself navigating medical appointments, tests and conversations with specialists. As everything moved quickly, Kitty remained a steady source of support, helping Patty feel less alone through it all.
A Personalized Treatment Plan Meant No Chemo or Radiation
Kitty stepped in to help ease the cancer journey for Patty. She guided her, answered questions, offered support and even helped navigate insurance. Once she had a confirmed cancer diagnosis, Kitty knew she would need to see a medical oncologist, who would be the “quarterback” of her cancer team—so Kitty connected Patty with Nilesh Vora, M.D. Her care was then transferred from the Lung Screening Program to the MemorialCare Todd Cancer Institute.
While her medical care would now be with Dr. Vora, Kitty remained connected and available for Patty, as she needed.
At Patty’s appointment in September 2025, Dr. Vora walked through the scans with her and the pathology report from her biopsy. Together, they determined a treatment plan that was the best fit for Patty. Because the cancer was caught so early, chemotherapy and radiation were not needed.
“The greater Long Beach area has some of the lowest lung cancer screening numbers, and we see too many late-stage lung cancer diagnosis because of it. This is why Patty’s story is so important. She kept going to her annual screenings – which ultimately gave her more years to her life.”
- Dr. Vora, medical director, MemorialCare Todd Cancer Institute, Long Beach Medical Center
Patty’s care plan included surgery to remove the tumor and ongoing monitoring with biannual CT scans and routine blood work to ensure that the cancer did not return once the surgery was complete.
In October 2025 Patty underwent minimally invasive, robotic-assisted surgery with the da Vinci 5 Surgical System to completely remove the tumor. As the most advanced robotic surgical platform available, the da Vinci 5 offers surgeons enhanced 3D visualization, greater precision, and improved control during complex procedures.
“We were successfully able to remove the tumor from Patty’s lungs, and essentially made her cancer free after the surgery,” said Amir Abolhoda, M.D., medical director, Cardiothoracic Robotic Surgery, Long Beach Medical Center. “With significantly increased computing power and real-time feedback, the da Vinci 5 allows for more accurate, delicate movements in confined areas like the lungs.”
This high level of precision helps protect healthy tissue, lowers the risk of complications, and supports a smoother, easier recovery for patients like Patty.
“I had no pain when I woke up,” Patty said. “Knowing how advanced the surgery was made a big difference for me. If this had been done before robotic surgery was available, I think it would have been much more difficult. Instead, the experience was incredible.”
Returning to Quit, This Time with Support
While surgery removed cancer, Patty knew quitting smoking once and for all was essential to protecting her long-term health. After recovering from surgery, she made the decision to fully recommit and rejoined MemorialCare’s Freedom from Smoking program.
With renewed determination, Patty leaned heavily this time on the encouragement and support of the program. Patty found strength in shared experiences and mutual accountability, including celebrating key milestones for one another, like a group member securing insurance so he could qualify for lung cancer screening.
Within the eight-week program, week seven marks the quit date, a milestone Patty remembers clearly.
“The group I was in was small, and we got to know each other,” Patty said. “By week seven, when it was time to quit, I didn’t feel like I was doing it alone. Everyone understood how hard that moment was, and that made a big difference for me. It was, and continues to be, a great source of support.”
Leaders in Lung Cancer Prevention & Treatment
Patty’s experience underscores the urgency of taking action and advocating for your health, even if you aren’t ready to quit smoking. Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States, often because it is detected at later stages when symptoms finally appear.
For patients who require cancer treatment after diagnosis, MemorialCare Todd Cancer Institute delivers comprehensive, coordinated care across the full cancer journey—from treatment planning through survivorship—close to home in the Long Beach community.
“MemorialCare was there for me every step of the way—from helping me take those first steps with smoking cessation and screening to guiding me through cancer treatment and beyond. When everything felt overwhelming, I always knew I had the MemorialCare team by my side.”
- Patty
Today, Patty describes her life with gratitude and purpose. She remains diligent about follow-up care, but she is no longer defined by cancer. She has also become a passionate advocate.
“I tell people not to wait on their lung screening,” Patty said. “Even if you’re not ready to quit smoking yet, getting screened is still worth it. It can catch something early and save your life, just like it did mine.”
To learn more, MemorialCare’s Lung Screening Program offers an online lung health risk assessment to help you understand your risk and connect you with appropriate resources.