Salem Radiologists at Salem Regional Medical Center

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$99 Low-Dose 3D CT Lung Cancer Screening (Lung Examination)

Call Us with Questions:  330-337-6140
Click to Read More:  Patient Brochure  Lung Cancer CT presentation (3MB)
 

Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer death in the United States and occurs in both men and women particularly those with a long-term smoking history. Lung cancer is the cause of one in every three cancer deaths and is more common than breast, prostate and colon cancer deaths combined.

 

To help improve a lung cancer patient’s chance of survival, a new annual low-dose CT (computed tomography) lung cancer screening program is now available at Salem Regional Medical Center in Salem, Ohio.

 

Modeled after mammography for breast cancer, annual low-dose CT can identify signs of lung cancer allowing doctors to intervene sooner and increase the chances that the cancer can be treated successfully. The goal of lung cancer screening is to detect lung cancer at a small size before it has spread so that it has a greater chance of being cured just like mammography does for breast cancer.

 

What is Low-Dose CT Lung Screening?

A recent article in the New England Journal of Medicine based on the National Lung Cancer Screening Trial proved that patients at high risk for lung cancer who are followed by annual low-dose CTs have a 20% reduction in lung cancer deaths compared with using traditional chest x-rays.

 

Unlike a chest x-ray which produces only shadows of the lungs, the low-dose CT technique produces high-resolution 3-D images of the lungs in just a few seconds with minimal radiation, no special diet or preparation, no holding of medications, and no injections.

 

$99 Screening Examination:

This advanced lung cancer screening is part of Salem Regional Medical Center's outreach program to patients of physicians on the Hospital’s medical staff and local residents within the Hospital’s service area. This new technique is not currently covered by Medicare or most insurance companies.

 

Suggested Participants for Screening:

  • Age 55 or Older: Current smoking history of 30 or more pack years, or if the person has quit smoking within the past 15 years with a prior smoking history.
  • Age 50 or Older: Smoking history of 20 or more pack years with increased risk factors for lung cancer, such as COPD or emphysema; environmental or occupational exposure such as asbestos, chemical inhalation, coal miner or pottery/clay worker; prior lung cancer; or family history of lung cancer.

 

Those interested in participating in the annual lung cancer screening program should contact their primary care physician for a referral. People without a primary care physician may contact Salem Regional Medical Center at 330-332-7213 for assistance.

 

Current smokers who participate in the screening will be offered information about smoking cessation, along with other types of cancer screening examinations. In addition, financial assistance may be available through the Hospital’s Charitable Foundation for those facing financial challenges.

 

Summary:

By having annual low-dose CT lung screening, long-term smokers and other high-risk patients will have the best chance of diagnosing and treating lung cancer at an early stage just like mammography has made a difference for breast cancer survival.

 

Because lung cancer is common in our elderly smoking population, children should consider talking with their parents about having this yearly examination.

 

Stopping smoking is the most important step to reduce the risk of lung cancer, but low-dose CT lung screening may help detect lung cancer at an earlier stage to help improve treatment.