Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death for both men and women and responsible for 27 percent of all cancer deaths in the United States. Unfortunately, more people die of lung cancer in the United States than breast, prostate, colon, kidney and melanoma combined. With these trends, about one incidence of lung cancer is diagnosed every two minutes and 20 seconds.
Columbus Regional Health (CRH) has the ability to screen for lung cancer and identify it in the early stages. Timely identification and diagnosis of lung cancer is the key to long term survival. Sometimes, there are only a few months before a Stage 1 lung cancer advances to a Stage IV, so the goal is to identify any suspicious lesions as early as possible. Lung cancer usually starts as a nodule or a spot in the lung. The low dose CT helps scan patients’ lungs and identify these spots. Based on the size, appearance, and location, these are either monitored or further treatment services may be warranted, including additional scans or a biopsy. Traditionally, only about 20 percent of the patients undergoing screening require any additional services or treatment and 80 percent just need a low dose screening CT once a year.
Currently, the low dose screening CT scans have been found most beneficial for patients who are between 50 to 80 years of age and who have smoked at least 20 pack years and are either current smokers or have quit within the last 15 years. Pack years are calculated by multiplying the average packs smoked a day by the number of years a person has smoked.
If suspicious lesions are identified on the screening CT, it is then reviewed by the CRH Lung Nodule Review Board consisting of physicians from various specialties, including Interventional Pulmonology, Interventional Radiology, Radiation Oncology and Thoracic Surgery. This approach offers patients a multi-disciplinary review by experts without the hassle of multiple appointments and is provided at no additional cost to the patient.
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Deepankar Sharma, MD
Interventional Pulmonologist
Columbus Regional Health
Lung Institute
$25 First Time Lung Scans
November 4, November 11, and November 18
In recognition of Lung Cancer Awareness Month, Columbus Regional Health is proud to offer reserved appointments for patients needing a first time lung scan. Each scan is offered for $25 and will not be submitted to insurance. Payment will be collected at the time of the scan.
Those who are eligible:
1. Are between 50 and 80 years old;
2. Have a history of heavy smoking; AND
3. Are either a current smoker or have quit within the past 15 years. Heavy smoking means a smoking history of one pack a day for 20 years or two packs a day for 10 years.
4. Individuals who have had a previous scan will be scheduled on another date.
