MARION, OH (MARION COUNTY NOW)—Ahead of Lung Cancer Awareness Month in November, OhioHealth Marion General Hospital will begin offering weekly lung cancer screenings now through the end of 2025.
The lung cancer screenings are offered at Marion General Hospital on Wednesday evenings at 6:00 p.m. and 6:20 p.m. as well as on Lung Cancer Screening Day, which is Saturday November 9, 2024, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Lung cancer remains a leading cause of cancer death in both men and women. The best chance of a cure is early detection.
“It has now been well over ten years since the landmark National Lung Screening Trial demonstrated that a series of low-dose CT scans could significantly reduce the number of deaths caused by lung cancer,” said Hiten Shah, MD, who specializes in pulmonary disease at OhioHealth Marion General Hospital. “Nevertheless, lung cancer remains the most lethal of all cancers. Lung cancer screening provides the best chance to find a cancer early and provide curative treatment, either with surgery or radiation therapy.”
One of the greatest barriers, however, is the stigma associated with having been a smoker, which can prevent individuals from pursuing this screening.
“At OhioHealth, we believe no patient should miss out on this lifesaving, simple test. Our pulmonologists are dedicated to patient education and advocacy, and we partner with patients throughout the process,” Dr. Shah said.
“Criteria for lung cancer screening eligibility typically include age (around 50-77 years depending on insurance or guidelines), duration of smoking (at least 20 pack-years) and timeframe of smoking (currently smoke),” said Joe Duffy, MD, pulmonologist with OhioHealth.
Ongoing screening is recommended every 12 months after the initial screening scan.
To register for a screening, call OhioHealth Central Scheduling at (614) 566.1111. An order is needed from the patient’s physician, which is covered by most insurance.