Low Dose CT Screening for Lung Cancer
“Lung cancer,” those words can be a devastating diagnosis. While it is true that lung cancer is the 2nd leading cause of cancer deaths for both men and women in the U.S.; our message, at the Midland Health Lung Center, is that lung cancer doesn’t have to be a death sentence. Part of the reason for the high number of lung cancer deaths is that often lung cancer is not diagnosed until the late stages, when symptoms are present. When detected early and treated 5-year survival rates can increase from 6%, without early detection, up to 65%! Treatment for lung cancer is continuing to improve and become more effective as technology advances, which has caused a decline in the number of lung cancer deaths overall.
The proven way to detect lung cancer early is through a low dose CT scan of the lungs (LDCT). LDCT is a quick, non-invasive and therefore painless procedure. No needles are involved. If you don’t wear any medal above your waist, it doesn’t even require a change into a hospital gown! A LDCT requires you to lay on your back on a special table that slides partly through a wide “donut” that takes images of your chest cavity. The actual test takes less than 5 minutes. Even people who tend to dislike closed spaces generally are not bothered, as they are never totally enclosed in the ring.
If you are considered at risk for lung cancer it is recommended that you have an annual LDCT, even if you feel fine and healthy. You are considered at risk if you are 55 years of age or older and have a history of smoking within the last 15 years. A LDCT scan is covered by Medicare and private insurance and requires a care provider to order the test. If you feel like you would benefit from LDCT, talk to your primary care provider about it. If you do not have a primary care provider, call our lung nurse navigator and she can help you find one. Funding is available if you do not have Medicare or insurance and cannot afford the $500 cost.
Should your LDCT show the need for a biopsy; Midland Memorial offers the Ion and Ebus procedures, which use the latest technology and greatly reduce the risks associated with the other types of lung biopsies. Both procedures are performed on an outpatient basis with minimal discomfort reported and minimal recovery required. Results are obtained in a matter of days, not weeks, and swift referrals are made for treatment.
Our mission at the Midland Health lung center is to be the premier team for preventing, diagnosing and treating lung disease in the Permian Basin. In pursuing this mission, we are dedicated to helping people improve their chances of avoiding and/or surviving lung cancer.
The number one way to increase your odds of avoiding lung cancer is to quit smoking and/or vaping if you already do and to never start if you don’t. Midland Health has a very effective program to help you stop smoking/vaping called Pivot. Pivot is free of charge to anyone in Midland County. It involves the use of a CO detector, over-the-phone counseling sessions, tobacco replacement and an online support group.
For more information about any of our services please visit our website at
midlandhealth.org/thelungcenter or call our lung nurse navigator at 432-221-3415.