Lung Cancer Screening Program
Screening For Lung Cancer Leads to Increased Survival
According to the National Lung Cancer Screening Trial, studies have shown that lung cancer deaths can be reduced by 20% when at-risk individuals participate in a lung CT screening program that offers a multidisciplinary approach to the diagnosis and follow up of abnormal scans.
For more information or to schedule an appointment contact us at
240-566-4100.
Early detection leads to increased survival.
Frederick Health offers a lung CT cancer screening program to identify individuals who are at increased risk of developing lung cancer. This screening allows your healthcare team to develop appropriate follow-up care based on your results.
Who is eligible for the program?
You are eligible to participate in the Frederick Health Lung Cancer Screening Program if:
- You are a current or former smoker who smoked at least 20 pack years
- You are between 50 - 77 years old
- Are not showing any signs of advanced lung cancer such as unintentional weight loss, coughing up blood, or persistent, significant fatigue - if you have these symptoms, please discuss with your primary care provider regardless of enrollment in the screening process
How do you calculate pack years?
To calculate how many pack years you have smoked, multiply the number of packs of cigarettes you smoked per day by the number of years you smoked.
For example:
- One pack per day X 20 years = 20 pack years
- Two packs per day X 10 years = 20 pack years
What does the screening cost?
In many cases, for eligible patients, there is no cost associated with the test.
If you have specific questions about whether your particular insurance plan covers any of the cost of the lung cancer screening CT, you should personally contact your individual insurance carrier before having the screening CT performed.
The Affordable Care Act requires that all insurers, both government and private, cover approved screening exams at no cost to the patient. Low Dose Lung CT Screening was approved by the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force in 2014. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services approved coverage in February of 2015.
How do I enroll into the program?
You will meet with an Advanced Practice Provider (APP) to determine eligibility and discuss risks and benefits of screening. If you are a current smoker they can also help you quit. Once you meet, you will be given an order for a screening exam, which is a low dose chest CT without contrast, to schedule. Once the CT is done, you will meet with the APP to review the images and make plans for a follow up either in one year or sooner if there are any findings.
If you think you might be eligible for lung cancer screening, contact the Frederick Health Lung Cancer Screening Program at 301-694-5864 to schedule an appointment.
What happens to my results?
You and your primary care provider will each receive a copy of the results and recommendations based on your screening.
Our coordinated team of lung experts will review all positive CT lung scans.
Answers to your questions are just a phone call away.
To learn more about our Low Dose Lung CT Screening Program located at the James M Stockman Cancer Institute, you can review FAQ’s or call 301-694-LUNG (5864).
