Low Cost Lung Cancer Screenings
Nov 5, 2021
November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month, so we chatted for our Community Health episode (in partnership with Valley Health) with Dr. Shalini Reddy, thoracic surgeon & Medical Director of thoracic surgery at Winchester Medical Center.
She told us about the special low dose CT lung screening event offered at Valley Health’s six hospitals during the entire month of November. The screenings are for uninsured individuals who meet screening eligibility criteria: adult smokers and ex-smokers between the ages of 55 to 80 with a 30-pack year history of smoking are most likely to benefit from LDCT screening. A $20 payment is required day of screening. Those interested in the lung screening should call 540-536-LUNG (5864) to determine eligibility.
For more information: valleyhealthlink.com/our-services/imaging/low-dose-lung-ct/
We also talked about the technological advancements in diagnosis & treatment as well as how early detection can be life saving.
The American Cancer Society estimates that about 235,760 new cases of lung cancer will be diagnosed in the U.S. in 2021. Lung cancer remains the number one cancer killer, accounting for more cancer deaths than breast, colon and prostate cancer combined. The ACS estimates that more than 8,000 people in Virginia and West Virginia combined will die of lung cancer in 2021.
For more information about lung cancer care at Valley Health, click here.