No one wants to hear that they have lung cancer, but if you are a current or former smoker, an early diagnosis can be the difference between life and death.
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death around the world, due in part because it’s often not diagnosed until the cancer is in advanced stages, when treatment options are limited. The best way to detect lung cancer early is with a low-dose computed technology (CT) scan.
“CT lung screenings are our best tool for diagnosing lung cancer in its earliest stages, which is crucial for effective treatment,” said Jon L. Freels, MD, FCCP, a specialist in pulmonary and critical care medicine with Maury Regional Medical Group (MRMG) Pulmonary & Critical Care. “This screening test can identify abnormalities in the lungs long before any signs or symptoms are present.”
Not everyone is eligible to receive this screening. Patients must meet the following criteria in order to have a screening at one of Maury Regional Health’s four screening locations:
- Be 50-77 years of age
- Have no signs or symptoms of lung cancer
- Be a current smoker or have quit smoking within the past 15 years
- Having a 20 pack-year smoking history (one pack-year equals smoking one pack — or 20 cigarettes — per day for one year)
- Receive a written order from your physician
For patients who don’t meet the criteria above but still wish to have a CT lung screening, a self-referral CT scan of the chest and lung area is available at Maury Regional Health for $100. No physician order is required.
“CT lung screening is the only test recommended as being effective for detecting lung cancer early,” Dr. Freels said. “Discuss the screening with your physician to determine if you’re a good candidate. Don’t wait until symptoms are present.”
Although you should certainly see a doctor if you have any of the following signs of lung cancer, this disease usually doesn’t produce symptoms.
Symptoms of lung cancer may include:
- Coughing that gets worse or doesn’t go away
- Shortness of breath
- Chest pain
- Wheezing
- Coughing up blood
- Experiencing repeated lung infections
- Constant fatigue
- Weight loss with no known cause
There are a variety of treatment options for early stages of lung cancer, including surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. Targeted therapy and immunotherapy may also be considered. The best way to treat it, though, is to catch it early.
Maury Regional Health offers CT lung cancer screenings at Maury Regional Medical Center in Columbia, Marshall Medical Center in Lewisburg, Wayne Medical Center in Waynesboro and Spring Hill Imaging in Spring Hill. For more information or to schedule a screening, visit MauryRegional.com/Lung.
Jon L. Freels, MD, FCCP
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Date Last Reviewed: September 19, 2023
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