November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month

I have always found the healthcare "awareness month" designations to be a blessing—and a bit of a curse. Yes, November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month, and it's great to see this specific (yet often misunderstood) condition receive extra media attention. 

When it comes to lung cancer, early detection is the key—but that applies to November, March, July, September, or whenever. When it comes to your health, please don't rely on a calendar--

disease never takes a holiday. Healthcare awareness is a 365/24/7 responsibility to ourselves and those we love.

This ongoing focus on self-care is one of the reasons I continue to be grateful to Coastal Breeze News for providing me with this forum for healthcare education. Plus, with all the misinformation gleaned from the Internet or somehow lodged in our subconscious, facts save lives.

One of our patients, a former smoker, recently provided a prime example of the depth of the confusion. "Though I had smoked for 40 years, once I quit, I pretty much assumed I was in the clear," the patient shared. "So, when my primary care physician suggested a low-dose CT scan of my lungs, it took me by surprise. However, the peace of mind I get in exchange for a simple five-minute procedure is priceless. I haven't smoked for over five years, and I'm healthy. I'm grateful to be on the positive side of lung cancer statistics." 

According to the CDC, breast cancer has a 90.1% five-year survival rate, cervical cancer has a 66%, colorectal cancer has a 63.7%, and lung cancer has a 24% survival rate.

"I'm a bit surprised by my naivete on this subject, too," the patient added. "I have personally known several non-smokers who developed lung cancer, so I should have known better. I owe it to myself and my family to pay more attention."

Many are surprised to learn that lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Annually, lung cancer claims more lives than colorectal, pancreatic, breast and prostate cancer, and 238,340 Americans will be diagnosed with lung cancer this year. In the US, lung cancer kills more women than any other cancer. Every day, 164 women die from the disease and 30% of lung cancer deaths are in non-smoking individuals.

A low-dose (computed-tomography) CT scan may help detect lung cancer in its earliest stages, when it's more treatable. A CT lung cancer screening only helps to find cancer if it is already there. It cannot prevent cancer. The best way to lower your risk of lung cancer is to stop smoking if you have not already done so.

The goal of a lung cancer screening is to detect cancer when it's very small before it has spread to other sites in the body. Patients must meet specific criteria for CT lung cancer scans, and Medicare and most insurance companies will cover the screening.

Age itself is not a risk factor. A provider would order a scan if a patient was exposed to the following:

Smoking, secondhand smoke, genetics, occupational or environmental exposure, radon, E-Cigs, family history, health issues, and/or current or former members of the military, due to potential chemical/occupational exposure.  

These potentially lifesaving screenings are available at Physicians Regional's Collier Boulevard and Pine Ridge hospitals, both designated as Lung Cancer Screening Centers by the American College of Radiology. Not only do we offer state-of-the-art navigational equipment to perform procedures, but we have a comprehensive team led by Dr. Brett Beecher, cardiothoracic surgeon, Dr. Vishal Patel, interventional pulmonologist, and Dr. Jay Wang, oncologist.

Finding cancer early generally means that there are more treatment options available. A recent study showed that after 6.5 years, among those who were eligible for screening, those who were screened with CT were 20 percent less likely to die from lung cancer.

Before your first screening, you'll need to schedule an appointment with your primary care doctor to discuss the benefits and risks of lung cancer screening. You and your doctor can decide whether it is right for you.

You should continue annual screening exams until age 80 or until 15 years have passed since you stopped smoking. You should stop screening if you develop a major illness, which would prevent a lung cancer work-up or treatment.

Above all, it's an honor and a privilege to help you take care of YOU—and those you love.

For more information about Physicians Regional's lung screening program, please email Lungscreening@physiciansregional.com or call 239-348-4401.