Kent offering low-dose CT scans to help detect early cases of lung cancer

Posted 12/16/14

Kent Hospital is encouraging the community to be proactive in helping to detect lung cancer early, with its multifaceted Lung Cancer Screening Program (LCSP). Kent’s program is designed to identify …

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Kent offering low-dose CT scans to help detect early cases of lung cancer

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Kent Hospital is encouraging the community to be proactive in helping to detect lung cancer early, with its multifaceted Lung Cancer Screening Program (LCSP). Kent’s program is designed to identify those at high-risk for the disease, as well as find and potentially cure early stage lung cancer.  

“Lung cancer is the second most common cancer in both men and women in the United States, so it is imperative to screen high-risk patients and if needed, help plan treatment accordingly,” Joseph Spinale, DO, FACC, senior vice president, chief medical officer, Kent Hospital said in a statement.

“While lung cancer is hard to detect at first, low-dose CT scans can help lower the fatality rate by finding tumors while in the earliest stages. Working with your primary care physician, along with lung cancer specialists, can help save lives,” said Dr. Spinale.

 Modeled after similar programs at other major medical institutions, Kent’s program is coordinated through a team of lung cancer specialists: Thomas J. Raimondo, DO, LCSP medical director, pulmonologist; Laurie B. Reeder, MD, LCSP surgical director, thoracic surgeon; and David W. Rowe, MD, chief of diagnostic imaging, Kent Hospital.

There are usually no symptoms associated with lung cancer, at least in its early stages, yet more people die from lung cancer than breast, prostate and colon cancer combined. According to the American Cancer Society, there was an average of 224,210 new cases of lung cancer in 2014, with 159,260 deaths.

Individuals who might be considered high-risk for lung cancer include smokers, and those who have had exposure to asbestos, radon, nickel, arsenic, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (byproducts of fuel burning). After talking with their primary care physician, the patient may undergo a low-dose CT scan – a lower radiation imaging scan – that can be helpful in finding small, abnormal nodules in the lungs. If nodules are found, the individual in conjunction with their physician, may get a repeat scan, see a lung specialist, a thoracic surgeon, or undergo additional testing. Physicians from Kent’s multidisciplinary team will provide consult and additional referrals based on testing outcomes.

While this program is not yet covered by insurance, Medicare is actively discussing coverage for beneficiaries age 55 -74 years of age who are asymptomatic but have a 30 pack/year or more smoking history, are a current smoker, or have quit smoking within the last 15 years.  Insurance coverage may likely change in the near future, but at this time there is an out-of-pocket cost to the patient of $300. That includes the low-dose CT scan, radiology reading, and a letter of the results which will be sent to their primary care provider.

Individuals interested in taking part in the Kent Lung Cancer Screening Program can log on to www.kenthospital.org/lungcancer and explore the relationship between age, smoking, and the risk of lung cancer over 10 years.  If a patient thinks they are at high-risk for the disease, they are directed to contact their primary care physician. For a referral to a primary care physician, contact the Kent Hospital Physician Referral Service at 737-9950.

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