In this episode of Physician Huddle by UCI Health, thoracic surgeon Hari B. Keshava, MD, joins the show to discuss the rising incidence of lung cancer in never-smokers, persistent gaps in lung cancer screening, and the growing importance of coordinated follow-up for incidental lung nodules.
Keshava also explains how advances in minimally invasive and robotic thoracic surgery, along with targeted therapies and immunotherapy, are reshaping treatment pathways for patients with lung cancer. He also shares his unusual path to medicine, from electrical engineering to thoracic surgery, and reflects on how a personal, family experience with serious lung disease continues to shape the way he cares for patients and their loved ones.
Topics discussed:
- Why lung cancer screening rates have improved, but remain far below where they should be
- Common physician and patient barriers to low-dose CT screening
- How to talk with patients about smoking history without judgment
- What to do when a lung nodule is found incidentally
- How the UCI Health lung nodule clinic helps streamline follow-up and next steps
- The rising incidence of lung cancer in never-smokers, particularly in certain patient populations
- Questions surrounding genetics, driver mutations, and environmental exposure
- How robotic and minimally invasive thoracic surgery is improving recovery
- Why targeted therapies and immunotherapy are changing surgical decision-making
- Keshava’s path from electrical engineering to thoracic surgery
- How personal experience shapes empathy, expectation-setting, and patient communication
- What makes thoracic surgery and multidisciplinary cancer care at UCI Health distinctive
Connect with UCI Health physicians online at clinicalconnection.ucihealth.org, on LinkedIn @UCI Health Physicians, on Instagram @ucihealthphysicians, or at @uciphysicians on X.
Refer a patient at referralportal.ucihealth.org and learn more about ongoing clinical trials at ucihealth.org/clinical-trials.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Betrayal Weekly
Betrayal Weekly is back for a new season. Every Thursday, Betrayal Weekly shares first-hand accounts of broken trust, shocking deceptions, and the trail of destruction they leave behind. Hosted by Andrea Gunning, this weekly ongoing series digs into real-life stories of betrayal and the aftermath. From stories of double lives to dark discoveries, these are cautionary tales and accounts of resilience against all odds. From the producers of the critically acclaimed Betrayal series, Betrayal Weekly drops new episodes every Thursday. If you would like to share your story, you can reach out to the Betrayal Team by emailing them at betrayalpod@gmail.com and follow us on Instagram at @betrayalpod and @glasspodcasts. Please join our Substack for additional exclusive content, curated book recommendations, and community discussions. Sign up FREE by clicking this link Beyond Betrayal Substack. Join our community dedicated to truth, resilience, and healing. Your voice matters! Be a part of our Betrayal journey on Substack.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com