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The opening of the Mercy Lung Evaluation Clinic is great news for patients at high risk for lung cancer. Each year more than 172,000 people in this country are diagnosed with lung cancer. Unfortunately, more than 160,000 will die because in most cases, overt symptoms do not appear until the lung cancer is too advanced to treat.
However, with early detection, intervention can occur when the cancer is still curable and localized, significantly improving chances of survival. Learn more about cancer screening at Dignity Health.
The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) released guidelines reaffirming the benefits of lung screening. The NCCN recommends lung cancer screening if you meet all of the following criteria:
A physician at the Mercy Lung Evaluation Clinic will evaluate you and may refer you for a computed tomography (CT) lung screening exam. If your insurance does not cover the price of the scan but you meet all the criteria above, you may still receive a scan by paying out-of-pocket.
A CT scan is brief and painless. During the scan:
Our state-of-the-art spiral CT equipment produces a low dose of X-rays with negligible adverse effects. The risks are not much different from those you encounter in everyday life, such as driving or flying in an airplane.
An initial positive result does not necessarily mean that you have lung cancer. Frequently, nodules your doctor may have detected on the screening test may turn out to be benign (noncancerous).
If your exam detects a nodule or nodules that raise concern, we will:
If the nodules are large, you may require immediate additional diagnostic tests and procedures.
You can feel confident that our team of board certified medical oncologists, radiologists, surgeons, radiation oncologists and cancer specialists work closely together to enhance effectiveness in analyzing and treating even the most complex cases. We use advanced surgical techniques, including video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS), to maximize outcomes and minimize pain and recovery time.
To schedule an appointment or referral with the Mercy Lung Evaluation Clinic, please call (877) 664-7763.