Annual lung cancer screening for high risk adults saves lives

Annual lung cancer screening for high risk adults saves lives  

Available at Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast

MIRAMAR BEACH, Fla. – Lung Cancer is the leading cause of cancer in the United States with more than 225,000 new cases diagnosed each year. When caught early, lung cancer is highly treatable. New studies have shown that low-dose CT screening for high risk individuals can result in a 20% increase in survival from lung cancer. 

Lung cancer is a disease where cancer cells form in the tissues of the lungs. It is the leading cause of cancer death in both men and women in the United States. Tobacco smoking is the most important risk factor for lung cancer and causes about 9 out of 10 cases of lung cancer in men and 8 out of 10 cases of lung cancer in women. 

During the low-dose CT scan, an x-ray generating device rotates around the body to make detailed images of the lungs. The non-invasive scan only takes a few minutes to complete and helps find cancer early when it is most treatable. By the time symptoms appear, cancer may have begun to spread beyond the lungs. 

Low-dose CT scans are recommended for adults who are at high risk for developing lung cancer because of their smoking history and age. Current guidelines recommend yearly lung cancer screening for people who: 

• Have a 20 pack-year or more smoking history, and
• Smoke now or have quit within the past 15 years, and
• Are between 50 and 80 years old.

A pack year is the number of packs of cigarettes smoked per day times the number of years smoking. So someone who smoked one pack per day for 20 years or two packs a day for 10 years has a 20-pack-year smoking history. 

Lung cancer screening is available at Sacred Heart Emerald Coast Imaging so people living in the area don’t have to drive far to get the screening they need. To schedule a lung cancer screening, call 850-416-LUNG. Referrals are not required.  

About Ascension Sacred Heart 

Ascension Sacred Heart, based in Pensacola, Florida, operates five hospitals and more than 100 other sites of care and employs more than 6,440 associates. In fiscal year 2023, Ascension Sacred Heart provided more than $142 million in community benefit and care for persons living in poverty. Ascension is one of the nation’s leading non-profit and Catholic health systems, with a Mission of delivering compassionate, personalized care to all with special attention to persons living in poverty and those most vulnerable. In FY2023, Ascension provided $2.2 billion in care of persons living in poverty and other community benefit programs. Ascension includes approximately 134,000 associates, 35,000 affiliated providers and 140 hospitals, serving communities in 19 states and the District of Columbia. Visit www.ascension.org.

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