The new guidelines for lung
cancer screening with lowdose
computed tomography
(LDCT) expand eligibility
for hundreds more Southern
Maryland residents – by
lowering the starting age
for screening from 55 to
50 years and reducing the
tobacco history from 30 to 20
pack-years.
“The ultimate goal is to detect more lung cancers in earlier stages when
treatment options have a better chance to produce positive outcomes,”
said board-certified medical oncologist Dr. Arati Patel, who is the
medical director for the lung health program at CalvertHealth.
St. Leonard resident James Reppenhagen said he’s glad he
decided to have it done. “It put my wife’s mind at ease,” said the
57-year-old longtime smoker. (See his story at right.)
The lung cancer screening, which is covered by insurance
(including Medicare), is part of a multifaceted effort by CalvertHealth
Medical Center (CHMC) in collaboration with American Radiology
Services|Calvert Medical Imaging Center and Chesapeake Potomac
Regional Cancer Center.
The joint program also includes a nurse navigator to help guide
patients through the process, a high-risk clinic to provide patient
education and counseling and a multidisciplinary thoracic team to
develop individualized care plans for patients.
Early Diagnosis Increases Survivability
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),
lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in men
and women in the United States, with smoking accounting for 90
percent of the cases.
This is of particular concern in
Calvert, with its high rate of smoking.
Although, the incidence has dipped slightly
in recent years, the rate of smoking locally
is still higher than the statewide average
– with one in seven adults in Calvert
reporting smoking in 2018.
Prior to the introduction of low-dose
CT, the vast majority of lung cancer
cases have historically been found at
later stages. Statistics show that of the
22 people diagnosed with lung cancer in
Calvert County in 2020, 17 or 77 percent of
them were at the more extensive stages of
cancer at Stage III or Stage IV lung cancer.
“If someone is detected with lung
cancer at an advanced stage, their
likelihood of surviving five years is very
low, roughly 20 percent,” said Dr. Patel.
“On the other hand, if it is detected at
an early stage, their likelihood of surviving
five years goes up dramatically to 60-90
percent. This is why screening high-risk
patients early on with low-dose scans can
make such a difference.”
She went on to add, “The key is to
undergo annual scans since lung cancer
may develop anytime during smoking or
even years after a person has stopped.”
Some patients may be screened more often
if there are areas the radiologists think
need to be watched more carefully.
At present, there are 486 persons
actively participating in various stages of
the local lung cancer screening program,
according to figures provided by American
Radiology Services. Patients receive
letters reminding them it is time to follow
up and the importance of this lifesaving
exam. Afterward, their physician receives
a report indicating the Lung-RADS®
category the result falls into, which can
range from benign to clinically significant.
Multidisciplinary Expertise Enhances Care
“The importance of having a multidisciplinary
team cannot be emphasized
enough,” said Dr. Patel. “Because the
treatment of lung cancer involves so many
specialties, it’s essential to
bring together expertise from multiple
fields to provide the best possible
treatment plan.”
CalvertHealth’s multidisciplinary
thoracic team meets twice a month and
includes medical oncology, radiation
oncology, radiology and pathology as
well as pulmonology and cardiothoracic
surgery and the nurse navigator.
The high-risk thoracic clinic at
CalvertHealth is designed as an
additional resource for those who are
at increased risk of lung cancer to
provide them with the added surveillance,
management and education needed to
implement risk-reducing strategies to
increase their overall survival.
Thoracic Oncology Nurse Navigator
Melissa Bowen, RN, who oversees the
high-risk thoracic clinic with Dr. Patel,
is readily available to answer questions
and assist with any referrals needed
depending on what the scan reveals.
“The clinic is the conduit to
everything we offer,” said Dr. Patel,
“from smoking cessation resources
and financial services to nutrition
counseling and behavioral health.” For
more information, call 410.414.4575.