A new tool is helping surgeons at AdventHealth transform lung cancer surgery and help save more lives. Cytalux is a fluorescent dye that lights up cancer cells during surgery. As the first hospital in Florida and the second in the U.S. to use this groundbreaking technology, AdventHealth is providing faster, more accurate treatment for patients.
“This new advancement helps patients by reducing the need for secondary surgeries and minimizing operating room time,” explains Dr. Colleen Gaughan, thoracic surgeon at the AdventHealth Heart, Lung and Vascular Institute.
Cytalux is administered as an IV medication before surgery and circulates through the patient’s body during the procedure.
“It gets taken up by the tumor and then during surgery, while (the patient is) already asleep, we use our special near-infrared camera to then see the (cancerous) tumor glowing in real time,” Gaughan recently told Yahoo News. She added that it helps surgeons pinpoint affected areas with more precision.
“Before this was available to us, we had to rely on CT scans or invasive techniques like injecting dye or placing wires into the tumor,” Gaughan told the CancerNetwork. “These older methods added time and expense to the procedure.”
This innovation has already saved lives, including Reena Caprario, who was diagnosed with stage one lung cancer last year.
“My lymph nodes under my armpits were hurting. I thought, this isn’t normal,” Caprario said. After her surgery with Dr. Gaughan, she has been cancer-free for over a year. Caprario is one of more than 40 patients who have benefitted from using Cytalux during surgery at AdventHealth Celebration.
“They (patients) experience little to no side effects. The most common side effects are itching or nausea,” Gaughan told Becker’s Healthcare podcast.
Dr. Gaughan credits early detection, advanced technology, and her dedicated team for these life-changing results. She urges high-risk individuals to get screened annually.
“If you know that something is wrong, don’t blow it off,” Caprario advises during a recent WFTV News interview.
The Freytag Cancer Center at AdventHealth Palm Coast has officially opened, revolutionizing cancer care in Flagler County. This facility, made possible by many donors, including Peter and Sue Freytag...
AdventHealth Waterman’s new boutique offers free wigs to women experiencing medical-related hair loss through partnerships with the hospital’s foundation and EBeauty Community.
New online degree at AdventHealth University is aimed at nurses seeking to advance their careers and specialize in providing compassionate and holistic care to women.
The eight-story tower will include 80 progressive care beds and three operating rooms, marking a significant milestone amid the rapidly growing population across Osceola and south Orange County.
AdventHealth Waterman’s recognitions in maternal and infant health highlights excellence.
Patients in Central Florida now have the option to receive hospital-level acute health care at home with AdventHealth Hospital at Home. The program enables patients who would have required an...
Patients in Central Florida now have the option to receive hospital-level acute health care at home with AdventHealth Hospital at Home. The program enables patients who would have required an...
The Inspiring Wholeness podcast explains how to start an exercise routine, stay motivated and build endurance safely, to find your inner Ironman.
As the world rang in 2025, AdventHealth for Women welcomed the very first babies of the new year.
Dr. Joseph Lopez, chief of pediatric head and neck surgery at AdventHealth for Children, was honored with the prestigious Professional of the Year Award at the 27th Annual Don Quijote Awards.
Giving back to his hometown, Dr. Ryan Day brings advanced robotic surgery to local patients, offering life-saving care close to home.
The holiday season can increase heart attack risks due to overindulgence, stress, and ignored symptoms, but Dr. Hector Lozano advises moderation, staying active, managing stress, and sticking to...
