NEWS RELEASE – January 20, 2023
ARH Low Dose Lung CT Scan Program Aims to Reduce Lung Cancer Deaths
January 20, 2023 – Too many lives are being lost to lung cancer and the multi-hospital Appalachian Regional Healthcare system (ARH) is on a mission to change that by earlier cancer detection through its Low Dose Lung CT program.
Kentucky consistently ranks #1 nationally in lung cancer and deaths from lung cancer but Low Dose Lung CT scans have been shown to decrease the risk of dying from lung cancer in heavy smokers. The ARH Low Dose Lung CT Program is available at all 14 hospitals in the ARH system.
What is a low dose lung CT? It is a 30 second painless noninvasive medical imaging test used for the early detection of lung cancer. This annual screening allows the radiologist to see different levels of the lungs and can detect smaller nodules or cancer than a standard chest X-ray.
“The power of surveillance over time is what this program is really about,” comments Pulmonologist Dr. Hal Sreden. “Establishing a baseline and looking at changes over time is where this program becomes most effective. It is unlikely that a single scan will show signs of cancer but being part of the program and having regular screenings increase our chances of discovering the cancer early.”
Screening with low dose CT has been shown to reduce lung cancer deaths even in patients with no symptoms. For patients with symptoms (e.g., chest pain, new or worsening shortness of breath, cough, coughing up blood, or weight loss) a standard chest CT is a better test. If there is a question, ARH nurse navigators will make sure the right test is done.
Dr. Sreden comments, “If a patient doesn’t meet the eligibility criteria, you can still be screened for lung cancer, it just goes through a different route. We are trying multiple ways to reduce the number of cancer deaths.”
Watch the webinar and listen as Rochelle Waddell, RN and Service Line Coordinator for Lung Cancer Screening, along with Pulmonologist Dr. Hal Sreden, discuss the benefits of being part of the 30 second Low Dose Lung CT Program with ARH. Hear the eligibility criteria for a lung cancer screening and learn more about the program and the seamless communication in getting the results to you and your physician.
Waddell comments ‘If anyone would like more information or would like to discuss a lung cancer screening, please contact me.”
For more information contact Rochelle Waddell at 606.435.7209 or through email at rwaddell@arh.org. Visit https://www.arh.org/cancer-care/low-dose-ct/ for more information and to access a quick assessment tool.
###
Appalachian Regional Healthcare (ARH), is a not-for-profit health system operating 14 hospitals in Barbourville, Hazard, Harlan, Hyden, Martin, McDowell, Middlesboro, Paintsville, Prestonsburg, West Liberty, Whitesburg, and South Williamson in Kentucky and Beckley and Hinton in West Virginia, as well as multi-specialty physician practices, home health agencies, home medical equipment stores and retail pharmacies. ARH employs more than 6,500 people with an annual payroll and benefits of $330 million generated into our local economies. ARH also has a network of more than 600 active and courtesy medical staff members. ARH is the largest provider of care and the single largest employer in southeastern Kentucky and the third-largest private employer in southern West Virginia.