CHI Memorial ’ s Breathe . Easy . mobile lung CT coach allows us to take low-dose CT lung screening out into our communities and reach people who may not have access or the opportunity to get this scan otherwise . The primary purpose of a lung screening is to look at the lungs for any nodules , masses , or lung cancer . Our screening also captures an image of the heart to calculate a cardiac calcium score which can help people understand their risk for heart disease or heart attack . In addition , the image typically includes a majority of the chest cavity , so a number of incidental findings have been identified during this screening as well ( i . e gallstones , thyroid masses , etc ).
When lung cancer is detected at an early stage , there is a significant increase of survival . Please call us at ( 423 ) 495-5864 if you have any questions .
Lung screening criteria
o Age 50-80 years old ( Medicare patients 50-77 years old ) o Current cigarette smoker or have quit within the past 15 years o Have > 20 pack year history ( 1 pack per day for 20 years , 2 packs per day for 10 years , etc .) o Asymptomatic ( no signs / symptoms of lung cancer ) o Patient has not had a chest CT in the last 12 months
Insurance / Grant Most insurance plans cover the cost of lung CT screening if you meet the criteria . If you don ’ t have insurance and meet the criteria , we offer grants to cover the cost of screening .