The screenings will run from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute in Newark and Wilmington Hospital. Appointments are encouraged, but walk-ins will be accepted as part of National Lung Cancer Screening Day, according to ChristianaCare.   Image provided by ChristianaCare.

Nov. 14 appointments highlight how annual low-dose CT scans can help eligible current and former smokers detect cancer before symptoms appear

ChristianaCare will offer lung cancer screenings Saturday, Nov. 14, in Newark and Wilmington, encouraging eligible adults with a history of smoking to take a step that could detect the disease when treatment is more effective.

The screenings will run from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute in Newark and Wilmington Hospital. Appointments are encouraged, but walk-ins will be accepted as part of National Lung Cancer Screening Day, according to ChristianaCare.

The effort addresses a challenge with lung cancer: People can feel healthy while the disease develops. Screening is designed to find cancer before symptoms appear, giving patients and their medical teams an opportunity to begin treatment earlier.

“Screening gives us the opportunity to detect lung cancer at an earlier stage, when treatment is often more effective and outcomes can be significantly better,” said Dr. Thomas Schwaab, the Bank of America Endowed Medical Director of the Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute, in ChristianaCare’s announcement.

The screening uses low-dose computed tomography, commonly called a low-dose CT scan, to create detailed images of the lungs with a small amount of radiation. Patients lie on a table while the scanner takes images. The scan itself takes only a few minutes and does not hurt, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

ChristianaCare says the screening takes less than 15 minutes to complete, with results typically provided through the referring health care provider within one to two weeks.

Who qualifies for screening?

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends annual low-dose CT screening for adults ages 50 through 80 who have at least a 20 pack-year smoking history and either currently smoke or quit within the past 15 years.

A pack-year measures smoking exposure over time. Smoking one pack a day for 20 years, or two packs a day for 10 years, equals 20 pack-years.

ChristianaCare’s announcement also lists not having received a lung CT scan within the past 12 months among its screening criteria. A navigator can help residents review their smoking history and determine whether screening is appropriate.

Screening involves potential benefits and risks. The CDC notes that scans can produce false-positive findings that lead to additional testing, detect cancers that would never have caused illness and expose patients to radiation. Patients should discuss those considerations with their health care provider.

Understanding coverage and cost

Insurance coverage requirements can differ from clinical screening recommendations. Medicare Part B, for example, covers annual lung cancer screening for eligible adults ages 50 through 77 who meet its smoking-history requirements, have no signs or symptoms of lung cancer and receive a provider’s order. Patients pay nothing when the provider accepts Medicare assignment.

ChristianaCare says its lung screening navigators can help uninsured or underinsured patients explore available resources and understand their options. Residents with coverage should confirm their plan’s requirements before their appointment.

To Go Box

• What: Low-dose CT lung cancer screenings for eligible adults.
• When: Saturday, Nov. 14, 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Where: Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute in Newark and Wilmington Hospital.
• Appointments: Call 302-623-0552. Walk-ins will be accepted Nov. 14.
• Eligibility and assistance: Speak with a screening navigator about smoking history, insurance and affordability.
• Learn more: christianacare.org/lung-screenings.

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