According to the American Lung Association , lung cancer is the leading cancer killer in both men and women in the United States , and is responsible for around 25 % of all cancer deaths . One in 15 Americans will be diagnosed with lung cancer in their lifetime , about 391 people per day .

Washington Health System is on a mission to improve the outlook for people who are considered to be at high risk for lung cancer . Their goal is to detect and treat lung cancer at the earliest stages , even before symptoms develop . With the introduction of the Lung Screening Program , WHS is providing low-dose computerized tomography ( CT ) scans to those who fall in that high-risk category .

Those who currently smoke or have stopped smoking within the last fifteen years , are between the ages of 55-77 and previously or currently smoke 1-2 packs per day for 15-30 years are considered high risk .

As with other cancers , early screening can be a lifesaver . According to the National Lung Screening Trial , there was a 20 % decrease in lung cancer deaths when patients were screened with a low-dose CT scan than with an x-ray . Early lung cancer detection makes a significant difference in prognosis . Cancer that is caught in later stages is much more difficult to treat and less successful .

Lung cancer CT screening has been available for some time , but usually only for an out-of-pocket cost . Because of the success of the screening trials , and with the approval of the U . S . Preventative Services Task Force , most health insurance companies are covering the cost of the scans for those who are considered high-risk .

Patients who are concerned about their risk of lung cancer are urged to discuss the Lung Screening Program with their primary care physician . Your doctor can determine whether you meet the criteria for screening and can submit an order to WHS .

Navigating the Lung Screening Program is simple with the help of Melissa Zucchero , WHS ’ Lung Screening Coordinator . After the appointment is scheduled , she will contact the patient for more information about their risk criteria and to answer any questions . She remains the point of contact for patients in the program , acting as a resource for more information and coordinating care .

Once the scan has been completed , it is submitted to a radiologist for review . Higher risk patients and those with suspicious findings on the scans are reviewed jointly by the Lung Screening Program Physicians which includes Pulmonologists , Radiologists , Thoracic Surgeon , and Oncologists , to make informed and collaborative decisions for recommendations regarding the next steps in appropriate care . Options can include further CT scans , PET scans or referrals to specialists .

Once accepted into the Lung Screening Program , patients qualify to receive yearly CT scans .

We know that cigarette smoking is the number one cause of lung cancer and accounts for 90 % of all lung cancer cases . As part of the program , patients are offered resources for smoking cessation . No matter the patient ’ s age or how long they have been smoking , quitting can help lower the risk for lung cancer and give you a longer life .

For more information about WHS ’ Lung Screening Program , you can call Melissa Zucchero at ( 724 ) 250-4594 .

Written by Emily King

whs . org

PETERS TOWNSHIP ❘ OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2021 7

IN Peters Township October/November 2021 | Page 9

YOUR HEALTH

Lung Screening Program

According to the American Lung Association , lung cancer is the leading cancer killer in both men and women in the United States , and is responsible for around 25 % of all cancer deaths . One in 15 Americans will be diagnosed with lung cancer in their lifetime , about 391 people per day .