PORTLAND, Ore. — New technology at Oregon Health & Science University is helping doctors catch lung cancer sooner, which is saving lives.

The Ion Robotic Navigation System has been nicknamed ‘Rosey’ by clinicians and scientists at the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute.

Aided by a computer-assisted algorithm, Rosey guides a thin probe through a patient’s lung to check for signs of cancer.

This means lung cancer can be caught early, increasing patients’ five-year survival rate to more than 90%, compared to a survival rate of roughly 10% for later detections.

“Early detection is key. We have fantastic advances in chemotherapy and robotic surgeries and radiation, but we haven’t been able to tip the scale towards improved five years survival in the general population and amongst all the therapies of lung cancer,” said Peter Lee, Md., an Interventional Pulmonologist at OHSU. “The biggest benefit in mortality has been lung cancer screening and early detection.”

OHSU is offering lung cancer screenings for patients with OHSU insurance this Saturday, November 11.

The American Cancer Society estimates 128,000 people die from lung cancer annually, more than colorectal, prostate, and breast cancer combined.