MemorialCare’s Lung Cancer Screening Program is designed to detect lung abnormalities early when treatment is more effective.
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death, with more people dying from lung cancer than colon, breast, and prostate cancers combined, according to the American Cancer Society. Sometimes lung cancer has no symptoms — and early detection is key. That’s why we’re here. With advanced screening technology, leading treatment options, smoking cessation resources and numerous clinical trials, our specialty-trained nurse navigators and physicians guide you through screening and beyond.
Find out your Lung Cancer Risk
Early Detection is the Key
Lung cancer is most treatable when identified in the earliest stages. For high-risk patients, a low-dose CT scan is designed to look for signs of lung cancer even before symptoms are present. Using advanced medical imaging equipment known as a low-dose CT scanner, the MemorialCare radiology team can see a detailed “picture” of your lungs. Examining these pictures, physicians look for any changes that could indicate lung cancer. Using a CT Scan increases the detection of lung cancer at Stage 1 up to the rate of 85 percent.
Lung cancer is often found when the tumor is relatively large, which results in treatment that may require more extensive surgery, chemotherapy, and/or radiation therapy and less favorable outcomes when compared to detecting cancer earlier. By using low-dose spiral computed tomography (Spiral CT), a special type of X-ray imaging more sensitive than routine chest X-rays, we anticipate finding more lung cancer cases at an earlier stage of growth and improving survival rates.
Lung Nurse Navigators
Our lung nurse navigators help guide and support patients and their families throughout their journey, providing guidance and education throughout the screening, diagnosis and treatment process, answers to their questions, care coordination by scheduling and expediting appointments and collaborating with a multidisciplinary treatment team, and resources and information, including financial, social services and access to clinical trials.
Customized Lung Cancer Care Tailored Just for You
Personalized care developed for the unique needs of each patient is a clinical reality at the MemorialCare Cancer Institute. Our multi-disciplinary team of highly skilled specialists collaborate to design targeted, customized treatment plans for each patient, giving them access to specialists’ opinions well beyond one aspect of their cancer.
Lung Cancer Research & Clinical Trials
We believe clinical trials are the front line in winning the battle against cancer. MemorialCare’s research program is on the leading edge of innovative diagnostic and treatment studies. Oncologists at MemorialCare Cancer Institute have at least 10 lung cancer studies currently, focused on specific kinds of cancers seen in local communities. Patients are encouraged to discuss the benefits of participating in clinical trials with their oncologists.
Early Lung Cancer CT Scan Screening Recommendations
A lung cancer screening is recommended by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force yearly for people who:
- Are between 50 and 80 years old, and
- Smoke now or have quit within the past 15 years, and
- Have a history of heavy smoking (20 pack years or more).
- A pack year is smoking an average of one pack of cigarettes per day for one year.
A lung cancer screening is recommended by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services yearly for people who:
- Are between 50 and 77 years old; and
- Asymptomatic (no signs or symptoms of lung cancer); and
- Smoke now or have quit within the past 15 years, and
- Have a history of heavy smoking (20 pack years or more).
- A pack year is smoking an average of one pack of cigarettes per day for one year.
The Benefits of Quitting Smoking
Within...
Motivated to Quit Smoking
Join us for a free 90-minute virtual orientation to learn more about classes that can help you quit nicotine. New sessions start every other month.