Lung Cancer Screening & Diagnosis
The Riverside Healthcare Lung Screening Program offers lung cancer screenings for individuals at high risk. The multidisciplinary program is under the direction of Pulmonary Medicine, Radiology, Thoracic Surgery, and Oncology services. Patients are encouraged to visit www.shouldiscreen.com as a preliminary resource to assess individual lung cancer risk.
Riverside’s Frankfort, Watseka, Coal City, Kankakee and Bourbonnais campuses are designated ACR Lung Cancer Screening Centers. The ACR Lung Cancer Screening Center designation is a voluntary program that recognizes facilities committed to practicing safe, effective diagnostic care for individuals at the highest risk for lung cancer.
Screening Criteria
- 50-77 years old
- Asymptomatic
- Current OR Former Smoker (Must have quit within last 15 years)
- Smoking Pack Years of at least 20 pack years (Packs smoked per day multiplied by the number of years smoked, for example, one pack per day x 20 years, two packs per day x 10 years.)
What to Expect
Individuals who meet high-risk guidelines will meet with a CT technologist to review their personal history and then will have a low-dose CT scan of the chest.
The CT procedure is painless and quick. No drugs or injections are used. You will lie on a table which then slides through the CT scanner. You will be asked to keep very still and hold your breath for 20 seconds of the scan. The procedure takes about five minutes, including preparation and actual scan. You may be asked to allow a half hour for the appointment.
Results will be mailed to you by the lung cancer screening navigator within one week of having the exam. In some cases, the results are communicated by your physician during an office visit.
If you don't have a physician, Riverside Healthcare can assist you with referrals to Riverside Medical Group providers.
How to Schedule Your Lung Cancer Screening Appointment
An annual CT Low Dose Lung Cancer Screening is recommended for high-risk individuals.
Please call Riverside Outpatient Scheduling at (815) 935-7531 to assess your risks and schedule an appointment. A physician order/referral is required for appointment scheduling.
Testing can be performed at Bourbonnais, Coal City, Frankfort, Kankakee, or Watseka campuses.
Follow-up and Additional Testing
Additional testing or follow-up may be required depending on your screening CT results. All follow-up testing can be performed at Riverside Healthcare, and the Lung Screening Team will assist you through further testing or cancer treatment.
Should cancer be suspected, our team, including an imaging patient navigator, pulmonologists, surgeons, oncologists and other professionals, are available to guide you through the process.
Abnormalities are frequently found in screening CTs, especially in individuals who smoke. Most of these turn out to be minor benign abnormalities, not cancer. In most cases, the only additional tests necessary are used to confirm that the findings on the scan are unchanged over time. In some cases, a course of antibiotics may be recommended if the results appear to be related to infection or lung inflammation.
Additional Information
If you smoke, a lung cancer screening could save your life by detecting it early, when it is more likely to be curable. Learn more about the American Lung Association’s Saved by the Scan initiative here. For an interactive, animated guide to lung cancer, visit youandlungcancer.com.
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Riverside’s board-certified oncologists specialize in the prevention, early detection and treatment of all types of cancers. Working together and with you, we’ll create a personal plan to wellness.
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