Look for us at the 14th Annual Women's Health Night on Tuesday March 20th, from 3:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The event is held at Illinois State University Bone Student Center and is sponsored by Illinois Heart and Lung Foundation.

Download the flyer

Are you a Current or Former Smoker?

CT Lung Screenings Now Available

Call 309-454-5552 today to schedule your appointment!

A randomized clinical trial conducted by the American College of Radiology Imaging Network, released its results in November 2010 that showed screening current and former heavy smokers with computed tomography (CT) scans, reduced their risk of dying from lung cancer by 20%. With 100 million smokers and ex-smokers in the United States and over 160,000 Americans dying yearly from lung cancer, CT lung screenings could potentially save thousands of lives annually by catching tumors at an even earlier, more treatable stage than chest x-rays.

In the 1970’s, chest X-rays were used repeatedly as a screening for lung cancer; however, no evidence has been shown that chest X-rays can reduce lung cancer mortality. Chest X-rays only have the capability of detecting tumors greater than 1 centimeter in size. A CT scan detects tumors significantly smaller than 1 centimeter in size. CT Lung screenings can also provide information to physicians on cardio-vascular disease, emphysema, and other pulmonary diseases.

What is a CT Lung Screening?

The CT Lung Screening is an exam that attempts to detect lung cancer in its earliest stage and when it is most treatable. It consists of a low dose, non-contrasted helical CT that uses X-rays to scan the entire chest in about five to ten seconds during a single breath hold.

What patients should get a CT Lung Screening?

This exam is for patients that are at high risk for lung cancer. Patients at high risk posses the following characteristics:

• Former or current smoker
• Ages 55-74
• 30 or more "pack years" of smoking**

**Equivalent of smoking a pack a day for 30 years or two packs a day for 15 years

What is the cost of a lung screening?

Most insurance companies do not cover screening procedures. CT lung screening costs $300 out-of-pocket at time of service. A physician order is required for CT Lung Screenings.

Should I be concerned about the radiation exposure and cancer risk from CT?

Radiation from a screening CT is far less than the dose from a diagnostic CT and the benefit of finding and treating early lung cancer will outweigh the risk from a low dose of radiation from a CT.

For more information on this study, please visit the NLST webpage at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) at: http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/noteworthy-trials/nlst/updates