Non-smoker Has Lung Lobectomy Performed with Da Vinci Robot

At age 48, Candace Aksamitowski was shocked to learn that she had a rare lung cancer. As a non-smoker with no family history of lung cancer, she was dumbfounded when Trinity Health Muskegon Pulmonologist Kathryn Kleaveland, MD, revealed her diagnosis.

Candace's journey began when she underwent a series of tests for pneumonia symptoms in Dec. 2022. A scan detected a two centimeter right upper lobe nodule in Candace’s right lung.

Her first biopsy with another health system was unsuccessful. In the spring, Candace underwent a direct CT guided needle biopsy at Trinity Health Muskegon that revealed a shocking diagnosis: B cell MALT (mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue) lymphoma — a type of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL). More common in older adults and typically found in the stomach, this was a rare diagnosis.

How rare? The National Library of Medicine states, “Although pulmonary MALT lymphoma is the most common B-cell lymphoma to affect [the] lungs, it’s still quite rare. [Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma] that starts in your lungs accounts for only 0.5% of all lung cancers and 0.4% of all lymphomas.”

Candace weighed her options.

“They told me I could ‘wait and watch’ because this cancer was slow growing, do radiation, or see if I qualified for surgery,” she said. Candace chose surgery.

That’s when Dr. Kleaveland referred Candace to Thoracic Surgeon Ryan Bylsma, MD, for further evaluation and possible treatment.

“Candace was referred to me because there was no evidence of disease anywhere else in her body, so she could be a candidate for surgical treatment. Her pre-op testing included pulmonary function tests that showed she could tolerate surgery. We performed her operation on May 31, 2023, using the Da Vinci robot, which is controlled by the surgeon,” said Dr. Bylsma.

“When I met Dr. Bylsma, I immediately felt very calm and comfortable. He is so nice, and I felt I’d be okay. I trusted him,” Candace said.

The Da Vinci robot provides significant benefits for patients.

“We can avoid making a large incision between the ribs, which is very painful,” said Dr. Bylsma. “With the robot, I usually use five small incisions, which heal more quickly than with traditional surgery and are less painful. There are also fewer air leaks from the lung tissues, resulting in a faster discharge from the hospital and faster removal of the chest tube.

“With Da Vinci, we can also visualize so much better and can see specific detail. This is because the robot has a 3-D camera that allows us a much closer and more detailed look at the structures that we are working on. One of the advantages of this visualization is the ability to perform a better lymph node dissection, which is critical in cancer cases,” he added.

Candace was hospitalized for two days at Trinity Health Muskegon.

“I’ve been receiving my medical care from Trinity Health Muskegon since I was a teenager. I felt a sense of ease and calmness at the hospital,” she said. “It was comforting to know that I could request a chaplain for prayer before my surgery. A chaplain visited twice afterward, and I was very happy about that. I also had two really good nurses in the Intensive Care Unit. I would definitely recommend Trinity Health to others.”

Recovery takes time from major surgery, even with robotic incisions that are smaller than those with traditional surgery. Candace continues to have some pain, but she is able to do more and more each week.

“Following surgery, I referred Mrs. Aksamitowski to oncology for further surveillance because this type of lymphoma in her lung was an unusual finding,” said Dr. Bylsma.

Dr. Bylsma wants people to know that Trinity Health Muskegon provides excellent care close to home.

“In most cases, we can provide the same treatment options for our patients that are offered in nationally recognized cancer facilities. There is no need to travel and have that additional expense. If we truly think you would do better at another health system, we will make that referral.”

Candace summed up her care at Trinity Health Muskegon in this way:

“I would definitely recommend Trinity Health Muskegon to patients in West Michigan. My experience with every doctor has been a positive one. I have been a patient there since the late 90s. I have total trust in Trinity Health Muskegon and would highly recommend them as a choice for care.”

Learn more about lung and chest cancer services at Trinity Health.