St. John’s Hospitals Recognize November as Lung Cancer Awareness Month

November serves as a gentle reminder to detect lung cancer at its earliest stage, often before symptoms develop

OXNARD, CA – (November 1, 2018) – St. John’s Regional Medical Center (SJRMC) and St. John’s Pleasant Valley Hospital (SJPVH), members of Dignity Health, are pleased to offer a proactive lung cancer screening program to those who qualify under the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines.

In recognition of National Lung Cancer Awareness Month, St. John’s Hospitals are urging community members to determine whether they are a candidate for our lung cancer screening program, which is now covered by most insurance providers. Proactive lung cancer screening could be life-saving by detecting early signs of lung cancer, when treatment options have the greatest chance of success.

“Lung cancer is the nation’s leading cause of cancer death, and in most cases it is not diagnosed until the late stages, when the disease is less treatable,” said Alicia Zaragoza, Oncology Nurse Navigator at SJRMC and SJPVH. “For this reason, we urge our community members to learn about their risk for lung cancer and the importance of early screening during the month of November, which is Lung Cancer Awareness Month.”

Early stage survival rates are high, however many lung cancer cases are detected in the later stages, the five year survival rate for lung cancer is 3.9%. Early detection can save lives, and that is why St. John’s Hospitals have developed a screening program for those deemed at high risk for lung cancer, the number one cancer cause of death in the United States.

If a patient is deemed at risk, the option to meet with our oncology nurse navigators will be suggested and a low-dose computerized tomography scan of the chest, generally called a CT or CAT scan, will be ordered. The screening, which only takes minutes to complete, produces detailed images of the lungs and other structures inside the chest. If any abnormalities are present, the scan will be reviewed by a dedicated multidisciplinary team of thoracic surgeons, oncologists, pulmonologists, radiologists, and pathologists. Once reviewed, our physicians will discuss options for further evaluation and treatment with the patient and their primary care physician, if necessary.

St. John’s Hospitals’ Lung Cancer Program brings together a team of specially trained, local physicians, surgeons, and nurses to work closely with patients and with each other throughout the entire journey. The lung cancer screening program at St. John’s Hospitals was created to diagnose patients at a treatable stage, before symptoms develop. For questions about the program, or to find out if you are a candidate, please call (866) 710-9848.

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About Dignity Health St. John’s Pleasant Valley Hospital and St. John’s Regional Medical Center

St. John’s Pleasant Valley Hospital in Camarillo and St. John’s Regional Medical Center in Oxnard are members of Dignity Health Central Coast, an integrated network of top quality hospitals, with physicians from the most prestigious medical schools, and comprehensive outpatient services - all recognized for quality, safety and service. Both hospitals are supported by an active philanthropic Foundation to help meet the growing health care needs of our communities. Hospitals in the Dignity Health Central Coast region also include Arroyo Grande Community Hospital in Arroyo Grande, French Hospital Medical Center in San Luis Obispo, Marian Regional Medical Center in Santa Maria. Learn more at DignityHealth.org/PleasantValley and DignityHealth.org/StJohnsRegional.