Pinckneyville Community Hospital Offers Lung Cancer Screening
Pinckneyville Community Hospital is now offering a new program to aid in the early detection of lung cancer for high-risk patients. This program utilizes a low-dose computed tomography (CT) scan to help high-risk patients screen for lung cancer.
Lung cancer continues to be the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. There are nearly 100 million smokers in the United States, many of them at high risk for lung cancer. Research shows that screening using a low-dose CT scan can help detect early lung cancer before clinical signs or symptoms become evident, and can reduce the number of deaths from lung cancer compared to screening conducted with chest x-rays.
Based on such findings, patients who meet the below criteria are eligible for the low-dose Lung Cancer Screening Program:
Age 55-77 years;
Asymptomatic (no signs or symptoms of lung cancer);
Tobacco smoking history of at least 30 packs/year;
Current smoker or one who has quit smoking within the last 15 years; and
Receives a written order for low-dose CT lung cancer screening from a qualified provider after appropriate "shared decision making" discussion and counseling.
Individuals who are interested in low-dose CT should speak to their primary care provider to check eligibility. Once a referral is received, Imaging Staff at Pinckneyville Community Hospital will conduct the test. Results will be interpreted by a board-certified radiologist with Clinical Radiologists, and will be sent to the ordering physician.
For information about low-dose CT screening for lung cancer, please call 618-357-5909.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Jennifer Barbour, 618-357-8898
