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Screening for Lung Cancer. Jess Dalehite, M.D. Southwest Medical Imaging Midland Memorial Hospital . Lung Cancer the Killer. 160,000 deaths from lung cancer each year. More than breast, colon, prostate and pancreas combined. More women die of LC than BC.
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Screening for Lung Cancer Jess Dalehite, M.D. Southwest Medical Imaging Midland Memorial Hospital
Lung Cancer the Killer • 160,000 deaths from lung cancer each year. • More than breast, colon, prostate and pancreas combined. More women die of LC than BC. • Most lung cancer is not curable when it is discovered. • By the time it becomes symptomatic it has already spread.
Cure for Lung Cancer • Early detection and surgical removal before it spreads is the only way to cure lung cancer. • Lung cancer that has spread can be treated with chemotherapy and radiation but the 5 year survival rate for metastatic lung cancer is around 5%.
How to Screen for Lung Cancer • CXR has been a miserable failure. • Checking sputum for cancer cells doesn’t work. • Routine diagnostic CT scanning is good but the radiation dose is too high to screen every year for life.
The Solution: LDCT • LDCT= Low Dose CT to screen for lung cancer. • Painless 10 sec scan without IV contrast. • We dial the radiation dose down to 20% of a normal diagnostic chest CT. • Can detect a lung cancer as small as 1/16 of an inch.
Who should get a LDCT? • Older patients with a long history of smoking. • Age: 55-79 y/o • Smoking history: At least 30 pack year history. • Quit smoking less than 15 years ago. • Future: Maybe 5o y/o with a 20 pack year history.
Who Pays? • The scan currently costs $300 at MMH. • Medicare, Medicaid and Private Insurance currently do not pay. • Recent thumbs up by USPSTF that will mandate payment under Obamacare.
How effective is it? • Screening studies are evaluated by how many people must be screened to save one life. • Breast screening with mammography= 1000 • Colon screening with colonoscopy= 800 • Lung screening with LDCT= 350.
Saving Lives • 20% reduction in mortality for those who are screened annually for 3 years. • That’s 38,000 American men and women each year!!!
Odds • The vast majority of people who smoke will never develop lung cancer. COPD, other cancers. • Heavy smokers are at the greatest risk. • Lung cancer is a curable disease if discovered early. • Heavy smokers have already made one mistake, why compound it with another; not getting screened?
Free Screening in September • MMH is offering free LDCT for those who fit the criteria and have an order from their doctor for the test. • Scheduling is available on each Saturday of September. • Call 682-XRAY (682-9729)