Low-Dose CT Lung Cancer Screening

Lung cancer is the second most common cancer in both men and women and causes more deaths than any other kind of cancer. With the use of low-dose CT screening, we may detect lung cancers earlier, increasing the chance of cure. CT lung screening in high-risk patients has shown to decrease cancer death by 20 percent, according to the National Lung Screening Trial in 2011.

Who Should be Screened?

Lung cancer screening with low-dose CT is recommended for people who meet the following criteria:

• Between the ages of 50 and 77 years old (age 78-80 may be eligible with commercial insurance coverage)
• Current or former smoker (former smokers who have quit within the last 15 years)
• Smoking history of at least 20 pack years (pack years = maximum number of packs smoked per day multiplied by the total number of years smoked)

If you meet these criteria and would like to be contacted about scheduling a screening, complete the form below. 

Important Notes About Screening

Lung cancer screening is a process, not a single test. To realize the greatest benefit of screening and reduce your chances of dying from lung cancer, you must adhere to your health care provider’s directions regarding screening and smoking cessation.

No test is 100 percent accurate, so it is important to understand the limits of this screening study. It is possible to get false readings that either do not detect an underlying medical condition such as lung cancer, or reveal findings that are suspicious of lung cancer, even if you don’t have it. In such cases, you may be asked to undergo additional tests or a biopsy to verify the results. The screening chest CT also may reveal findings not related to your lungs that may require additional diagnostic tests.

Insurance Coverage

Medicare and most private insurers cover lung cancer screening in high-risk individuals. Medicare requires a dedicated lung cancer screening counseling and shared decision-making visit from a physician or nurse practitioner. 

For more information, call the Multidisciplinary Thoracic Oncology Clinic at 231-392-8537.

About Munson's Lung Cancer Screening Program

Munson Medical Center, Munson Healthcare Grayling Hospital, Munson Healthcare Charlevoix Hospital, Kalkaska Memorial Health Center, Munson Healthcare Manistee Hospital, Munson Healthcare Otsego Memorial, and Munson Healthcare Paul Oliver Memorial are part of the Lung Cancer Alliance's Screening Centers of Excellence.

Lung Cancer Screening Self-Referral Form

If you meet the criteria above and would like to be contacted by a Munson Healthcare staff member to discuss a lung cancer screening, complete the form below.