November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month. In that spirit, Corewell Health is urging people over the age of 50 and anyone who smokes or has smoked in the past to be screened for lung cancer.
Corewell is facilitating easy lung cancer screening by making CT scans available to qualifying individuals. Here’s how it works:
WHAT: Corewell Health in Southwest Michigan is participating in National Lung Cancer Screening Day, Saturday, Nov. 9 by offering low-dose lung computed tomography (CT) scans. Using advanced imaging, these scans can detect tiny, suspicious specks—before anything spreads outside the lungs, when treatment of cancer is most successful. The test is 15 minutes or less, is painless and requires zero preparation.
WHY: On average, 165 new cases of lung cancer are diagnosed each year locally in Southwest Michigan. Statistically, it claims more lives annually than breast, colon and prostate cancers combined. People shouldn’t wait until they quit smoking to be screened. An early diagnosis could mean better chances of survival and living cancer-free.
WHO: Anyone between the ages of 50-80 years old who smoke, or quit smoking within the past 15 years, are encouraged to get a quick lung cancer screening – it could be the most important appointment they have all year.
WHERE: Corewell Health Care Center, Royalton at 3900 Hollywood Road in St. Joseph, (a/k/a The Health Park)
HOW to register: Call 269.556.2843 to schedule the scan.
A doctor’s order is required to schedule, but Corewell Health’s lung cancer nurse navigators will help patients determine eligibility and get the order they need for the scan. Most insurances including Medicare and Medicaid will cover if eligibility criteria are met.
