Posted In Screenings and Prevention on November 01, 2022
November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month. According to the American Lung Association, lung cancer is the leading cancer killer in both men and women in the United States. It causes more deaths than the next three most common cancers combined (colon, breast and prostate).
Signs and symptoms of lung cancer include worsening shortness of breath, chest pain, a persistent cough sometimes with bloody phlegm, excessive fatigue and/or weight loss. Unfortunately, most patients with lung cancer don’t have symptoms of lung cancer until the cancer has progressed to a more advanced stage.
Catching lung cancer at its earliest stage prior to the development of symptoms and treating it quickly provides the best chance of survival.
Lung cancer screening with an annual low-dose chest CT is recommended for patients at increased risk for lung cancer. Eligibility and coverage may vary depending on your insurance plan, but the US Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends lung cancer screening for patients meeting all of the following eligibility criteria:
- Age 50-80
- Tobacco smoking history of at least 20 pack years
- (one pack year = smoking one pack per day for 1 year)
- Currently smoke or quit smoking within the last 15 years
- No signs or symptoms of lung cancer
To schedule a lung cancer screening or for additional information, please call Lauren Moore, CRNP with TidalHealth's Thoracic Oncology Program, at 410-543-7551. Screenings are offered in Salisbury, Seaford and Ocean Pines.
