If you are a smoker or recently quit smoking, lung cancer screening may help save your life. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in the U.S., but a new scan offers hope. Screening to detect cancer early, before it spreads, improves the likelihood of surviving five more years to 63 percent.
Osborne County Memorial Hospital started the special X-ray called a low-dose CT scan or LDCT in August and hopes the preventive care screening will decrease the number of cancer-related deaths in the county.
"Anytime we can screen at-risk patients for early detection, we provide better care than waiting until we're trying to find a cure or mitigate symptoms," said Dr. Barbara Brown, OCMH's chief medical officer. "Most people think of making an appointment when they don't feel good or need to use emergency services, but healthcare providers would much rather prevent disease than treat it."
Patients lie on a table that slides in and out of the CT machine while it takes multiple pictures. A computer then compiles those images into a detailed picture of the patient's lungs.
"Patients won't notice any difference between this screening exam and a typical CT scan," said Penny McKenzie, the hospital's radiology director. "An LCDT limits the unknowns and gives patients and their providers peace of mind."
McKenzie notes that patients who qualify for an annual preventive screening are between 50 and 77 years old and have a 20-pack-year smoking history or have quit smoking within the last 15 years. Pack years are determined by the number of cigarettes smoked per day for a year. To have a 20-pack-year smoking history, an individual has smoked one pack a day for 20 years or two packs a day for ten years.
"Patients who meet both age and smoking qualifications will not need prior authorization for the screening and may be able to have same-day service," McKenzie said.
The American Lung Association recommends LDCTs as an effective screening tool. The organization's website includes a helpful description of the screening process, a short quiz to determine eligibility, and a guide to help facilitate a conversation with a provider.
OCMH's team can help patients understand the risks and benefits of screening, costs and insurance coverage, the results, and the next steps after a screening.
Brown recommends that everyone visit their provider annually and notes it is especially important for individuals with a family history of illness or other risk factors. To make an appointment for a yearly physical, call Goad Medical Clinic at 785-346-2510.
"Annual physicals are a great place to start these conversations," Brown said. "We always want patients to feel comfortable asking questions and letting us help address concerns. Preventive screenings like the LDCT go a long way to ease the stress of the unknown."
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