According to the American Cancer
Society, lung cancer is the leading
cause of cancer- related deaths in
the United States – causing nearly as
many deaths each year as prostate,
breast and colon cancers combined.
Don’t be a statistic. A lung cancer
screening can be lifesaving.
This past fall, board-certified medical oncologist and
director of the lung health program at CalvertHealth
Dr. Arati Patel had the opportunity to participate in a
Duke Health roundtable discussion on the importance
of lung cancer screening.
She went on to add, “The test itself is quick,
painless and covered by insurance. Additionally,
the health department has grant funding to provide
lung cancer screenings for qualifying individuals
at no cost.”
New Guidelines Designed to Catch More Cases Early
In 2021, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force
(USPSTF) issued new guidelines for lung cancer
screening with low-dose computer tomography (CT).
Dr. Patel shared the ultimate goal was to detect more
lung cancers in earlier stages, when treatment options
have a better chance to produce positive outcomes.
“Detecting lung cancer early not only saves lives, but
improves the effectiveness of our treatments,” said
Dr. Patel.
In 2023, nearly 240,000 cases of lung cancer
were diagnosed in the U.S. Of those, more than
127,000 resulted in death. Screening for lung cancer
improves survival, but according to the American Lung
Association, only 5.8% of eligible Americans have been
screened. In Maryland, that number is 6.9%. “We have
tremendous options for state-of-the-art treatments
at our fingertips, but we need at-risk individuals to
pursue screening,” said Dr. Patel. “Lung cancer is one
of the more deadly cancers because symptoms don’t
usually appear until late in the course of the disease,
so it’s important to get screened early on – even
though it is unlikely patients will have any symptoms.”
Early Diagnosis Increases Survivability
Prior to the introduction of low-dose CT, the vast majority of lung
cancer cases have historically been found at later stages. “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 can make
such a difference.”
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.
“We are laser-focused on helping individuals go through this
process from start to finish,” said Dr. Patel. 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.
The USPSTF recommends annual screening for lung cancer with
low-dose CT in adults aged 50 to 80 who have a 20 pack-year smoking
history and currently smoke or have quit within the past 15 years. To
learn more about lung cancer screening or the lung health program at
CalvertHealth, scan the QR Code above or call 410.414.4575.
CalvertHealth + Duke Health
A Powerful Combination Against Cancer.
The Duke Cancer Network is backed by the
resources of the Duke Cancer Institute, ranked
among the top four percent of U.S. centers
designated as a National Cancer Institute
Comprehensive Cancer Center. “Having the
ability to access the tremendous educational
resources of Duke Cancer Network for our entire
team is an incredible opportunity,” said Dr. Patel.
“Oncology is a field of medicine that is rapidly
changing. Being able to learn from some of
the country’s top researchers and investigators
who are studying cancer every day will directly
impact our ability to bring exceptional care to our
patients and our community.”
Why Duke Health?
The affliation provides CalvertHealth patients
with access to:
- The resources of an NCI-Designated Comprehensive Cancer Center
- The latest cancer research and leading-edge treatment advances
- Clinical trials only available at the best cancer hospitals in the country
- Second opinions from all types of cancer experts for treatment planning
The Duke Health Roundtable on lung
cancer screenings was just one of the many
opportunities for the CalvertHealth
cancer team to collaborate with
some of the nation’s top oncologists.