Facing The Facts About Lung Screening
Experts Share the Facts about Lung Cancer Screening
Low-dose CT scans are quick, non-invasive and simple, yet lung cancer screening remains one of the most overlooked areas of preventive care. Unlike mammograms and colonoscopies, the screening flies under the radar, and many people who qualify don't even know the scan exists.
“One of the biggest misconceptions we see about lung screenings is simply a lack of knowledge that they’re recommended,” said Tufik Assad, M.D., Intensive Care Unit (ICU) director at Williamson Medical Center and a board-certified pulmonologist and critical care physician.
November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month, making it an ideal time for Dr. Assad and Devin Sherman, M.D., to set the record straight about the importance of lung screenings.
What You Don’t Know Can Hurt You
Lung cancer screenings help doctors find cancer early, when it’s easier to treat.
“Finding lung cancer early is our main purpose with these screenings,” said Dr. Sherman, a pulmonologist and critical care physician. “A robust lung screening program can reduce a patient’s risk of dying from lung cancer by up to twenty percent.”
Even so, some patients skip the scan out of fear of what it may reveal.
“Some patients fear the potential diagnosis and are even more scared of the potential treatments,” Dr. Sherman said. “Cancer therapy, particularly lung cancer therapy, has dramatically changed in recent years with new therapies that are better tolerated and more effective.”
Lung Scans Aren’t Just for Smokers
Although smokers and former smokers face increased lung cancer risk, family history and exposure to carcinogens, including secondhand smoke, asbestos and radon, can also contribute.
"Radon is a naturally occurring gas that's colorless, odorless and tasteless, and it's very common in Middle Tennessee," Dr. Sherman said. Radon is the second-leading cause of lung cancer overall, including among people who have never smoked.
Radon can enter homes through foundation cracks and accumulate in basements or crawl spaces. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) classifies Williamson County as Radon Zone 1, indicating the highest potential for elevated indoor radon levels. Homeowners can use radon test kits to check their homes.
Insurance Covers Lung Scans for Some Patients
Insurance plans often cover lung screenings for those considered high risk for lung cancer, Dr. Assad said, but specific criteria must be met.
This includes:
Ages 50-80
A twenty pack-year smoking history
Currently a smoker or quit within the past 15 years
Don’t meet the criteria? Take advantage of Williamson Health's Lung Cancer Screening Event, being held this November. Low-dose CT scans are available for $150 as a self-pay option. Williamson Health’s radiology team reviews the results, which patients should also discuss with their primary care physician.
A Nodule Doesn’t Always Mean Cancer
A lung nodule or abnormality on a scan doesn’t necessarily indicate cancer.
“The overwhelming majority of nodules we see are benign,” Dr. Assad said. “Most of the things we see are small scars that we may watch over time with repeat scans but don't need to biopsy or treat."
If further testing confirms cancer, patients can receive cutting-edge care at Williamson Medical Center, where the compassionate and knowledgeable staff and a dedicated lung cancer navigator help guide them through the process.
It's a frightening moment, but Dr. Sherman said patients facing that diagnosis today have more reason for hope than ever.
“We have the ability to find lung cancer early, make the diagnosis and pursue effective treatments,” Dr. Sherman said. “Lung cancer is scary, but we can fight it.”
Williamson Health's annual Lung Cancer Screening Event runs throughout the month.
To schedule your $150 low-dose CT scan, call 615.435.5361 between November 1st – 30th to schedule an appointment. Scanning is available at the Williamson Health Outpatient Imaging Center, 4601 Carothers Parkway, and the Bone and Joint Institute of Tennessee Main Campus, 3000 Edward Curd Lane, in Franklin. Learn more at williamsonhealth.org/lung-cancer-awareness.
