Lung Cancer Screening Program at Siteman

Lung cancer often doesn’t cause symptoms, which makes regular screenings (if you’re eligible) vitally important. It also increases the likelihood of catching lung cancer in its earlier and more treatable stages. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the United States; deaths that could potentially be prevented by early detection through lung cancer screening. Siteman Cancer Center is committed to lowering the risk of death from lung cancer, while minimizing the potential harms that can occur after lung cancer screening.

Call 314-798-7806

Lung Cancer Screening Program

If you have questions about a lung cancer screening appointment, please call 314-798-7806. Newly diagnosed patients also may call the registered nurses in our Patient Care Coordination Center, toll-free at 800-600-3606 from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. weekdays.

Siteman Cancer Center is committed to lowering the risk of death from lung cancer, while minimizing the potential harms that can occur after lung cancer screening. Our carefully designed program includes the following:

  • Encouragement of screening only for those likely to benefit
  • Follows U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, National Comprehensive Cancer Network, and American College of Radiology guidelines on lung cancer screening
  • Dedicated Nurse Navigator to assist patients and their health care providers throughout screening and follow-up
  • Interpretation by dedicated thoracic radiology subspecialists at the Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology
  • Standardized reporting using the American College of Radiology Lung-RADSTM system
  • Same day or next morning screen interpretation
  • Negative results mailed to patient and primary care provider
  • Abnormal results phoned and mailed to patient and primary care provider by dedicated Nurse Navigator
  • Automatic referral to a Washington University thoracic surgeon for monitoring and management of abnormalities possibly due to lung cancer
  • Emphasis on smoking cessation

 

Call 314-798-7806 to schedule your lung screening. Contact your doctor first for a referral.

 

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Robinson Lung 2

Yearly lung cancer screening: Is it right for me?

Koz Colditz

Frequently asked questions

Who can get screened for lung cancer?

  • If you are 50-80 years old and have a smoking history of 20 pack years or more, you can get screened for lung cancer.

Examples of at least a 20 pack year smoking history

1 pack per day for 20 years, 2 packs per day for 10 years

Calculate your pack year history

  • If you have smoked this amount or more, you may be eligible for lung cancer screening.
  • You can get screened even if you quit smoking, as long as you quit in the past 15 years.

What are the costs of a lung cancer screen?

Medicare currently covers the costs of lung cancer screening for eligible patients, as do many private insurance companies. In some cases you may have to pay a portion of the costs, information our staff can check before your scan.

What if my results are abnormal?

Your results will be read by our world-class physicians who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer. And should your results require further assessment, you have access to Siteman Cancer Center’s multidisciplinary team who can provide comprehensive evaluation and treatment options.

Are there risks associated with the screening?

As with any scan of this kind, you will be exposed to some radiation, which has the potential for health risks. However, because our team uses a low-dose CT scan, there is less exposure than with traditional tests. It’s important to discuss these risks and other risks with your doctor.

What are low-dose CT lung scans?

A low-dose spiral computed tomography (CT) image takes many pictures of your lungs, so a specialist can scan the images for cancer. Because this type of scan is “low-dose,” it uses reduced amount of radiation as compared to other CT imaging. During the scan, which takes about a minute, you’ll lie on a table while a technician performs the test. There are no needles used or contrast dyes used.

Are you ready to quit smoking?

Quitting smoking lowers your risk of getting lung cancer and other diseases of the lungs, heart, blood, and brain.

You can get FREE help quitting, at:

  • Tobacco Quitline: Individual telephone counseling, 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669)
  • On-Line Quit Plan: Supportive texts, smartphone application, and calendar, smokefree.gov
  • Washington University Center for Smoking Cessation, 314-747-QUIT (7848) or email [email protected]
  • American Cancer Society Quit For Life Program, 1-866-QUIT-4-LIFE (1-866-784-8454)

For information on calculating your lung cancer risk:

More information

Schedule Your Lung Screening Today

Whatever your needs or concerns, Siteman is here to help you through it.
Call 314-798-7806 to schedule your lung screening. Contact your doctor first for a referral.

Call 314-798-7806