CHI Memorial's mobile lung screening coach will provide computerized tomography (CT) screenings at the Dade County Senior Center on Monday, June 25, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Lung cancer screening is a test to look for signs of lung cancer in otherwise healthy people. The low-dose CT scan shows a 3-D image of your lungs that is clearer and more detailed than regular x-rays, allowing doctors to diagnose lung cancer at its earliest stage, before there are any symptoms. This is when lung cancer is most curable.
The whole process takes less than 10 minutes and there is no need to do anything special to prepare for the screening. The CT lung cancer scan has been shown to improve survival by 20 percent, according to The National Lung Screening Trial (NLST) by the National Cancer Institute (NCI).
Factors that put you at high risk of developing lung cancer include:
Age 50 or greater
Smoking history
Family history of cancer
Exposure to cancer-causing agents (asbestos, diesel fumes, Radon, coal smoke, soot, etc.)
Private insurance companies cover lung cancer screening for high-risk individuals. Medicare and Medicaid also cover lung cancer screening. And financial aid may be available for those without insurance. If you feel you are at risk, call CHI at (423) 495-LUNG (5864) to discuss if a lung screening is right for you, or to schedule an appointment.
CHI Memorial is a not-for-profit, faith-based healthcare organization founded by the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth and part of Catholic Health Initiatives.
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