Lung Cancer Screenings
Lung cancer is the number one cause of cancer deaths in the United States for both men and women—and 85 percent of these deaths can be attributed to smoking. Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem counties’ lung cancer rates are among the highest in New Jersey.
Inspira’s Approach to Lung Cancer Screening
Inspira’s lung cancer screening program helps patients detect lung cancer earlier and increase their chance of surviving. Our program, which includes dedicated cancer coordinators, follows the high risk inclusion criteria as established by the National Lung Cancer Screening Trial, which found that screening for lung cancer using low-dose CT scans can lower the chance of dying from lung cancer by 20 percent.
Our program is designated a Lung Cancer Screening Center by the American College of Radiology, and in 2014 we were named a Screening Center of Excellence by the Lung Cancer Alliance.
Inspira Health offers low-dose computerized tomography (LDCT) scans, which have been shown to reduce lung cancer deaths by 26 percent in men and 39 percent in women. LDCTs scan your lung tissue for abnormalities or masses of tissue, known as lung nodules.
You Should be Screened for Lung Cancer If You Are:
If you have any of these risk factors and are between the ages of 50 and 80, you should talk to your doctor about getting screened for lung cancer—even if you are asymptomatic.
- Someone with a tobacco smoking history of at least 20 pack-years (20 pack-years = smoking one pack per day for 20 years; 1 pack = 20 cigarettes)
- A current smoker, or one who has quit within the last 15 years
A prescription from your physician is necessary to be scheduled for the screening. Patients who do not fall into the criteria as outlined by the National Lung Screening Trial will not be eligible for this program. However, if you have questions about lung cancer education or smoking cessation we encourage you to contact us for more information.
If you’d like more information about cancer screening, diagnosis or prevention, our team is here to help.
Working with an Inspira Lung Cancer Coordinator
Inspira’s thoracic, head and neck oncology coordinators serve as the clinical guide for the lung cancer screening program. Our coordinators ensure patients are well-informed about the screening process.
If needed, they offer support and resources to patients through their diagnosis and treatment plan. Additionally, our coordinators are certified tobacco treatment specialists and will work with smokers to help them break the habit and quit smoking for good.
