Early detection is the key!

Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer deaths. Every year 200,000 Americans are diagnosed with lung cancer and 160,000 die from it. A big reason for this high death rate is that lung cancer symptoms oftentimes don't appear until the cancer has reached an advanced stage.

The good news: Lung cancer screenings can detect cancer before you have symptoms and when lung cancer is caught early and treated, the five year survival rate can increase up to 90 percent.
 

The CT Lung Cancer Screening Program at UMass Memorial Health

CT stands for computer tomography, technology that uses a low dose of radiation to create images that can uncover cancer. The CT Lung Cancer Screening Program at UMass Memorial Health provides regular screenings to patients who are at risk for developing lung cancer. Through these examinations, we can proactively and safely screen patients for this disease, and even save lives.

CT Lung Cancer Screening at a Glance

  • COMFORT:

    The CT screening exam is pain-free.

     

  • TIME:

    The entire examination takes less than 10 minutes and in most cases we can get you in and out in about a half hour.

  • Safety:

    The procedure is noninvasive, similar to an X-ray, where there are no injections or pills to swallow. The amount of radiation you receive is low and has minimal risk.

     

  • AFFORDABILITY:

    Most insurance plans cover CT lung cancer screening for those who qualify. With some plans you might have a portion of the cost you’re responsible for, and your health insurance company can answer that for you.

     

     

UMass Memorial Health is a pioneer in low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) lung cancer screening, and our program is a designated Lung Cancer Screening Center, accredited by the American College of Radiology.

 

Who should be screened for lung cancer?

You should be screened if you meet all of the following criteria:

  • 50 to 80 years old
  • Currently smoke cigarettes or have quit smoking cigarettes in the past 15 years
  • Have smoked at least an average of one pack of cigarettes per day for 20 years, referred to as 20 pack years
  • Have no current symptoms of lung cancer, such as coughing up blood or sudden, unexplained weight loss

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