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If you’ve ever
been a smoker, chances
are you’ve thought about lung cancer:
Could
I have it?
Today there’s an opportunity to
screen for it to help answer that question—
and hopefully give you peace of mind.
The screening—called a low-dose spiral com-
puted tomography (CT) scan—can find lung
cancer in its early, most treatable stages. And
it’s available through a program launched last
fall at St. Elizabeth Community Hospital. You
can get this screening at St. Elizabeth Com-
munity Hospital by obtaining a referral from
your primary care doctor.
“It’s quick and painless and it saves lives,”
says James O’Brien, Supervisor of Imaging
Services. The scan can help find cancer before
it spreads. So it’s the only screening that low-
ers the risk of dying from lung cancer.
In fact, experts suggest that CT scanning
might help prevent more than 20,000 lung
cancer deaths in the U.S. every year.
Should you be screened?
If you’ve ever had a pack-a-day habit—even if
you’ve quit since—the screening may be right
for you. Experts recommend that longtime
smokers ages 55 to 74 get a yearly screening.
If you have other lung cancer risk factors as
well, screening may start as young as 50.
If this describes your smoking history, most
health insurance plans cover the cost, says
Jaci Franseth, RN, the program’s nurse navi-
gator. But financial help may also be available
if you need it. “We’re committed to saving
lives,” she says.
Beyond screenings
The lung cancer screening program offers more
than just answers—it’s about support too.
For example, if you’re ready to quit smoking,
we’ll refer you to a free program that can help
you kick the habit.
And if a CT scan finds something abnormal:
Within two days, you’ll learn the results.
And so will your primary doctor.
Within two weeks, you’ll meet with a
lung cancer specialist—an oncologist or
a pulmonologist. This doctor can explain
your options for further screening and
treatment.
And you’ll have the support of the nurse navi-
gator. “I’ll be available to answer your ques-
tions and help arrange any care you need,”
Franseth says. From treatment through
recovery, we’ll always be here to help.
Lung cancer screening
Put your
worries to rest
PREVENTIVE CARE
Jaci Franseth, RN,
Nurse Navigator
Screenings
for lung
cancer save
lives. Call
530.529.8247
to find out
if it’s right
for you.
The local picture
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Nationwide
17%
North
State
21–26%
Percentage
of adults who smoke
Finding lung cancer early is especially
crucial in our area, where smoking rates
are higher than in the rest of the nation.
Smoking is the leading cause of death
from lung cancer.
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Dignity Health North State