Lung screening provides hope for early cancer detection, better outcomes

Screening event and services offered at Ridgeview for those who qualify

According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States — but it doesn’t have to be. Early detection is now possible thanks to advances in lung cancer screening with low-dose computerized tomography (CT) scans.

Low-dose CT scans look for abnormalities in the lungs that may be cancerous. These quick and noninvasive scans can detect cancer before symptoms occur, improving the chance of survival. Typically, by the time symptoms of lung cancer are identified the cancer is already in an advanced stage and survival rates are low, which makes screening for those of high risk critical.

Who should be screened for lung cancer?

Although it’s possible for non-smokers to develop lung cancer from exposure to secondhand smoke, radon, asbestos and other cancer-causing agents, the risk is much higher for those who currently smoke tobacco or have a history of smoking.

People ages 50 to 77 who meet these guidelines are candidates for low-dose cancer screening:

• Current smoker OR previous smoker who has quit within the last 15 years

• A tobacco smoker of at least 20 pack-years*

• Asymptomatic (no signs or symptoms of lung cancer)

Ridgeview is hosting a lung cancer screening event

Ridgeview is hosting a low-dose CT scan screening event for those who meet the criteria outlined above. It will be held at Ridgeview’s Waconia Campus on Saturday, May 6, 2023, from 8 a.m. to Noon.

Insured patients meeting the screening eligibility guidelines can call to schedule their May 6 screening at 952.442.8083. (Patients who currently smoke are required by insurance to come in 20 minutes before their appointment for smoking cessation education.) Eligible, uninsured patients should apply for MinnesotaCare Insurance prior to scheduling their low-dose CT scan with Ridgeview.

Screening appointments are available at Ridgeview for those who cannot attend the May 6 event. Call 952.777.4471 to learn more about other scheduling options.

*Pack-years are determined by multiplying the number of packs of cigarettes smoked per day by the number of years the person has smoked. For example, if a patient smoked half a pack of cigarettes per day for 40 years, they would have smoked for 20 pack-years. If they smoked two packs a day for ten years, they would have also smoked for 20 pack-years.