Lung Cancer Screening Program

According to the World Health Organization, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among both men and women. In fact, more people die from lung cancer than of breast, colon and prostate cancer combined.

The Jamaica Hospital Lung Cancer Screening Program is committed to improving the morbidity and mortality associated with lung cancer.

Lung cancer screening helps to identify cancer at an early stage when treatment can be most effective. Early detection with a low dose computed tomography (LDCT) scan can improve survival in people with lung cancer. Our program offers screening with a LDCT chest scan to high-risk individuals who are eligible based on certain criteria (see below). Our dedicated program team consists of a coordinator, as well as specialists from pulmonary, radiology, oncology, and surgery. Once enrolled into our program, eligible individuals will perform a yearly LDCT scan until screening is no longer recommended (patients reach age 80 or have been abstinent from smoking cigarettes for 15 years or more).

Cigarette smoke is linked to approximately 80-90% of lung cancer deaths. Smoking can also lead to the development of other types of cancer, chronic lung conditions such as COPD, and cardiovascular diseases (including heart attacks and strokes).

Other known risk factors for lung cancer include:

Lung cancer screening is not recommended for everyone.

We follow the guidelines of the United States Preventative Task Force Service and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to determine lung cancer screening eligibility for our program.

If you meet all of the criteria (below), you may be a candidate for lung cancer screening:

The low-dose CT scan is a special type of imaging used during screening to take detailed pictures of the lung to look for cancer. The LDCT uses one-fifth the amount of radiation than a traditional CT scan, making it safer for routine testing. During the test the patient lies flat on a table while the scanner takes multiple pictures of the lungs.

The scan is quick, painless, and noninvasive.

After the LDCT has been completed, a letter will be sent to the patient and the referring provider regarding the results. If the findings are normal, the recommendation will be to follow-up in 1 year for another LDCT, assuming eligibility requirements are met. If further diagnostic testing is needed, our Lung Cancer Screening Program Committee will make the appropriate recommendations to the referring patient’s physician/healthcare provider. Our coordinator will also be available for any questions that may arise.

Smoking remains the leading cause of lung cancer and tobacco cessation is one step individuals can take to improve their health outcomes. Our program coordinator will work together with the Jamaica Hospital smoking cessation team to assist patients in quitting. Visit the Jamaica Hospital Smoking Cessation Program for help in your quit journey.

• There is a small risk of radiation exposure with the LDCT scan. For context, the amount of radiation exposure from the LDCT scan is equivalent to the natural background radiation that the average American is exposed to in six months.
• Sometimes an LDCT scan may find a nodule which is not cancerous; this may produce anxiety and require further follow up imaging or diagnostic testing with their associated risks
• There may be incidental findings found in the lungs or other parts of the body that will require follow up with a heath care provider.