Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in both men and women, exceeding the number of deaths from breast, colon and prostate cancers combined.
Northeast Georgia Medical Center is now offering a new lung screening exam, which uses low-dose CT scans for earlier detection, when treatment for lung cancer is most successful.
The National Lung Cancer Screening Trial indicates that early detection can increase the five-year survival rate for stage 1 lung cancer to 90% (compared to the advanced stage rate of just 15%).
Patients eligible for this screening include those who meet the following criteria:
- Age 55-77
- Active smoker or has quit less than 15 years ago
- 30 pack-year history (the number of packs per day times the number of years smoked)
Patients with any of the following criteria are not eligible for screening:
- Unable to lie flat 10 minutes
- Has undergone a chest CT within the last 12 months
- Has signs or symptoms of lung cancer such as:
- Hemoptysis (coughing up blood)
- Unintentional weight loss (15 or more pounds over the last 12 months)
- Unexplained cough
- Not candidate for or not interested in lung cancer treatment
To order a low-dose CT screening, download this form and then either 1) complete the form on this page or 2) call 770-219-7666.