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Could a Change in Cancer Screening Save 20,000 Lives a Year? A Syracuse Cancer Center Believes So.

lungcancer.org

A Syracuse cancer treatment center has started using a new screening method that could save 20-thousand

lives a year in the U-S.  A change of Federal recommendations is in the works to find more lung cancer.
 Many long-term smokers probably know they have an increased risk of lung cancer.  Upstate Cancer CenterMedical Director Doctor Louise Kohman says the Preventive Services Task Force is now suggesting that yearly C-T scans can make a life-saving difference.

“This is the first time we’ve had evidence that it actually saves lives.  Because there are certain screenings, although they detect more cancers, they don’t actually result in life savings, like P-S-A tests will detect many more prostate cancers, but since most prostate cancers are not fatal, it doesn’t save a lot of lives.  Most lung cancers are pretty fatal.”
 

Credit Upstate.edu
CT Scans could performed in machines such as this one to detect more lung cancers.

A key plus of these recommendations, which Kohman believes will be adopted after a public comment period, is that insurance would cover the tests.  They’re only for people with long histories of smoking, such as a pack-a-day for 30 years or two packs-a-day for 15…even if they’ve quit.  The Upstate Cancer Center is offering the C-T Scan screenings already.  Patients have to pay a reduced 235 dollar fee.

“We hope people don’t wait until their insurance will cover it, because they’re losing a chance to get ahead of something, knowing that in the future, eventually, there will be coverage for it.”

Cancer_Kohman_web.mp3
Dr. Kohman describes candidates for the treatments.

Early detection is key to fighting any cancer, but Kohman emphasizes a far more effective life-saving action – quit smoking.
Anyone interested in the C-T Scan lung-cancer screening can all the Cancer Center at 464-8668 for eligibility and information.

Chris Bolt, Ed.D. has proudly been covering the Central New York community and mentoring students for more than 30 years. His career in public media started as a student volunteer, then as a reporter/producer. He has been the news director for WAER since 1995. Dedicated to keeping local news coverage alive, Chris also has a passion for education, having trained, mentored and provided a platform for growth to more than a thousand students. Career highlights include having work appear on NPR, CBS, ABC and other news networks, winning numerous local and state journalism awards.