Six Sites Open Nov. 8 for National Lung Cancer Screening Day

Six lung cancer screening facilities in Nevada will open their doors on Saturday, Nov. 8 as part of the fourth annual National Lung Cancer Screening Day. The nationwide event is part of Lung Cancer Awareness Month and has hundreds of hospitals, radiology centers, and other screening facilities across the U.S. offering low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) lung cancer screening to the public on a Saturday.

Annual lung cancer screening with LCDT for those at risk of lung cancer has proven to find lung cancer at its earliest stages, while using roughly one quarter of the radiation of a routine CT scan.

Nevada locations include:

• Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center, 3186 S. Maryland Parkway, Las Vegas
• Comprehensive Cancer Centers of Nevada at 3730 S. Eastern Ave., Las Vegas
• Personalized Imaging Consultants at 5465 Reno Corporate Drive. Suite 200, Reno
• Renown Health Lung Cancer Screening Program Clinic at 1500 E Second St, Suite 302, Reno
• Northern Nevada Sierra VA Medical Center at 975 Kirman Avenue, Reno
• Humboldt General Hospital, 118 E. Haskell St., Winnemucca

“Regular screening for people at higher risk for lung cancer has improved with the use of LDCT, but many people aren’t aware that screening is an option or that they’re eligible to be screened,” said NCC Executive Director Cari Herington. “National Lung Cancer Screening Day gives us an opportunity to educate the community and also give people access to lung cancer screening without having to take a day off work.”

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in Nevada, taking an estimated 940 lives each year in the state. Newer, more effective screening has helped some people to find their lung cancer earlier when it’s easier to treat and survive, but the disease remains the #1 cancer killer in Nevada by far.

“Last year, only about 1.4% of eligible Nevadans were screened, which means we have an enormous opportunity to help so many more people take control of their health,” said Dr. Tim Hamilton, cardiovascular and thoracic surgeon at Sunrise Hospital in Las Vegas. “The chance of surviving lung cancer more than doubles when it’s found in the earliest stage. Eligible people are ages 50-80, 20 pack years or more, active smoker or quit within 15 years.  Anyone who thinks they may be eligible for screening should talk to their healthcare provider about getting screened and ask for a referral.”

Annual lung cancer screening with LDCT has been recommended since 2013 for those at increased risk of lung cancer, replacing the less effective chest x-ray as the preferred method for screening. It’s a relatively new recommendation, however, as compared to other cancer screenings such as the Pap test, colonoscopy, or mammogram, which were recommended screening methods starting in the ‘60s, ‘70s, and ‘80s, respectively.

“Early detection saves lives, and every person deserves the chance to catch lung cancer early. We encourage anyone at increased risk or with a history of exposure to talk with their healthcare provider about getting a referral for screening. By expanding screening access outside the regular workweek on Saturday, Nov. 8, we aim to provide people with the opportunity to take advantage of advanced technology and convenient screening options,” said Kathleen Graham, DO, Medical Director of the Lung Cancer Screening Program at Renown Health.

People ages 50-80 with at least a 20-year pack history of smoking, who currently smoke or who have quit within the past 15 years, are eligible to be screened. A pack year is one pack of cigarettes a day for a year, so 20 pack years would be a pack a day for 20 years or two packs a day for 10 years.

Learn more about where to get screened for National Lung Cancer Screening Day at https://www.nevadacancercoalition.org/lung.  

Details for each screening location:

• Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center, 3186 S. Maryland Parkway
  • Open 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
  • To schedule an appointment, call the Sunrise centralized scheduling number at 855-445-2246. Additionally, physician offices have the direct fax number to fax a referral.

• Comprehensive Cancer Centers of Nevada at 3730 S. Eastern Ave.
  • Open 8 a.m. – 10 a.m.
  • Referrals are scheduled through Dr. Vishisht Mehta and the Lung Team.

• Personalized Imaging Consultants
  • Open 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. at 5465 Reno Corporate Drive. Suite 200, Reno
  • Call Jennefer at 775-325-6184 to schedule.

• Renown Health
  • Open 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. at 1500 E. Second Street, Suite 302
  • Individuals who would like to participate should contact their primary care provider for a referral to the Renown Lung Cancer Screening Program. Once that referral is placed, then the interested individual can call the Renown Outbound team at 775-982-2052 to schedule their Shared Decision Making Visit. At that visit, the risks and benefits of lung cancer screening will be discussed and the order for the imaging will be provided.

• VA Sierra Nevada Health Care Medical Center
  • 975 Kirman Avenue in Reno
  • No appointment necessary.

• Humboldt General Hospital
  • Open 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. 118 Haskell St. in Winnemucca
  • Patients must have an order from their primary care provider to get screened. To schedule, call 775-623-5222.