August 1st is World Lung Cancer Day

Know Your Risk, Get Screened!

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths among women and men in the U.S. In recognition of World Lung Cancer Day on August 1^st, the American Lung Association's LUNG FORCE initiative is urging everyone to learn about risk factors for the disease and highlighting the importance of early detection through lung cancer screening.

What are the Risk Factors for Lung Cancer?

Risk factors can include:

• Cigarette smoking (including inhaling secondhand smoke)
• Exposure to indoor pollutants, such as radon gas, that can damage your lungs
• Exposure to outdoor air pollution

Why Should Someone be Screened for Lung Cancer?

Lung cancer usually shows no obvious symptoms until it is in its later stages and is harder to treat. Early-stage lung cancer is more likely to be treatable and curable. Studies show that screening high-risk patients using a low-dose computerized tomography (CT) scan can detect lung tumors earlier and can reduce the lung cancer mortality rate.

That's why Crozer Health developed its Lung Screening Program using low-dose CT scans for people who are at high risk. It can help find cancer earlier, when it can be treated more effectively, and help lower the risk of dying from the disease.

“Lung cancer is difficult to diagnose because there are no symptoms, and the mortality rate is very high,” said Joseph D.  Whitlark, M.D., Crozer Health thoracic surgeon. “By the time symptoms may appear, the disease is usually advanced. Crozer Health’s lung screening program includes innovative robotic technology that enables us to detect cancer earlier, when it can be treated most effectively, and this significantly improves survivability.”

Crozer Health Lung Screening Program

The Lung Screening Program at Crozer Health is for current smokers or people who have quit smoking within the past 15 years. The program has been designated as a Lung Cancer Screening Center of Excellence by the Lung Cancer Alliance. It has also been designated as a Lung Cancer Screening Center by the American College of Radiology. A navigator is available to assist people in scheduling their screening and guiding them through all necessary steps, and smoking cessation information is offered to all participants.

Who is Eligible for the Program?

Our program follows the high-risk inclusion criteria as established by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. To be eligible for this program:

• You are 55-80 years of age and a current or former cigarette smoker who smoked at least 30 packs of cigarettes per year. This can be one pack a day for 30 years, two packs per day for 15 years, or one-half pack per day for 60 years.
• You are a former smoker who has quit within the past 15 years.

 Find out if you’re eligible for Crozer Health’s lung screening program.