Watch a video featuring Dr. Michael Skokan, pulmonary medical director, Providence Lung Cancer Clinic, describing the need for lung cancer screening.
What is lung cancer screening?
- When people who have no symptoms are tested to detect disease, that process is called “screening.”
- Screening for cancer increases the chance of being diagnosed at early stages when cancer can be more successfully treated.
- Early stage diagnosis is associated with longer survival rates.
- In lung cancer, studies have shown that the disease can be detected at an early stage using a low dose spiral CT scan.
Who should be screened for lung cancer?
According to the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), a professional organization that produces guidelines for diagnosis and treatment of cancer, people who fit all of the following criteria should be screened for lung cancer:
- Current smokers and former smokers (who quit within the past 15 years)
- Those with a 30-pack-year history of smoking
- Those between the ages of 55 and 79
Find out if you meet criteria for screening.
Talk to your primary care provider about screening. Your physician can refer you to the Providence Lung Cancer Screening program. Our nurse navigator will contact you for a brief phone consultation.
Why should I be screened at Providence?
At Providence Cancer Center:
- We screen with low-dose CT scan for lung cancer, which results in less radiation exposure than standard CT imaging.
- We comply with comprehensive standards based on best practices for controlling screening quality, radiation dose and diagnostic procedures such as those developed by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network and the International Early Lung Cancer Action Program.
- We meet the criteria developed by Lung Cancer Alliance for Lung Cancer Screening Excellence and Continuum of Care.
- We work with a multi-disciplinary clinical team to carry out a coordinated continuum of care for screening, diagnosis and disease management based on best practices which include:
- Thoracic (chest) radiologists, pathologists and pulmonologists to evaluate the images and specimens obtained in screening, diagnostic work-ups, and treatment
- Trained thoracic surgeons with experience in minimally-invasive techniques who are committed to annual reporting on surgical outcomes
- Medical oncologists and radiation oncologists experienced in the care of patients with lung cancer
- Nurses and support staff who will assist patients with coordination of their care within the continuum
Contact Providence to learn more about lung cancer screening:
Those interested in lung cancer screening should contact their primary care provider for a referral to our program, or they may contact our thoracic nurse navigator directly by calling 503-215-6014.
Resources:
Am I at Risk of Lung Cancer
NCCN Guidelines for Patients