Dignity Health Lung Cancer Screening Program

 

Each year more than 200,000 people in this country are diagnosed with lung cancer. Unfortunately, more than 125,000 will die because in most cases, symptoms do not appear until the lung cancer is already at an advanced stage and treatment options are less effective.

However, with early detection when the cancer has not spread, outcomes are far superior with cure rates for stage 1 lung cancers of 80-90%. More lung cancers can be found at stage 1 and 2, and less at stages 3 and 4 through screening.

Our lunch cancer screening program offers those at higher risk for lung cancer the opportunity to screen for it before symptoms develop, and are now covered by Medicare Part B, Medi-Cal and all major insurances.

Screening Guidelines

The United States Preventative Services Task Force released guidelines reaffirming the benefits of lung cancer screening for those who meet the following criteria:

• Age: 50 to 77 with no signs or symptoms of lung cancer
• Smoking history: Active or former smoker with a 20 pack year history (A "pack year" is the equivalent of one pack of cigarettes per day, per year. One pack per day for 30 years or two packs per day for 15 years would both be 30 pack years.)
• Active smoker: If you are an active smoker, we strongly urge you to enter a smoking cessation program
• Former smoker: If you are a former smoker, you must have quit within the past 15 years.

What to Expect

Ask to speak with your primary care physician about the pros and cons of screening. If you decide to proceed, they will order a CT lung screening exam. A CT scan is brief and painless.

During the scan:

• We position you on the CT table.
• You need to hold your breath for about eight to 15 seconds.
• The scan takes less than a minute.
• There is no injection of intravenous (IV) contrast involved.

CT Lung Scan: Low Risk

Our state-of-the-art spiral CT scanners produce a low dose of X-rays with about the same amount of radiation as an average American receives in six months from natural background radiation by living on planet Earth, or from flying from the East to the West coast.

CT Lung Scan: Results

An initial positive result does not necessarily mean that you have lung cancer. Frequently, nodules your doctor may have detected on the screening test may turn out to be benign (noncancerous).

If your exam detects a nodule or nodules that raise concern, we will:

• Recommend a second type of diagnostic test.
• Advise you to make an appointment with a lung specialist.
• Recommend that you return for follow-up scans in six-month or yearly intervals, for up to two years, to ensure the detected nodule does not enlarge.

If the nodules are large, you may require immediate additional diagnostic tests and procedures.