What is a Screening Test?
Erlanger Cancer Services
Erlanger Baroness Hospital
979 East 3rd Street
Chattanooga, TN 37403
Contact Lung Cancer Services
423-778-6617
Early detection of lung cancer is the most effective way to reduce the risk of illness or death from this disease. A lung screening CT scan can find lung cancer before symptoms develop and the cancer spreads.
Erlanger offers yearly lung screening computed tomography (CT) scans for patients who are at high risk of lung cancer because of age and/or smoking history.
You’re considered high-risk if:
- You’re between the ages of 50-80
- You’ve smoked cigarettes in the past 15 years
- You have a smoking history of at least one pack per day for 20 years or comparable (i.e., ½ pack per day for 40 years)
If you are considered high risk, your insurance or Medicare plan should cover the cost of your test in full, with no co-pay. If you’re not considered high risk, we can discuss your options with you.
Your healthcare provider must order a lung screening consult before your appointment can be scheduled.
To schedule an appointment or learn more about our lung screening program, call 423-778-6617.
About the Erlanger Lung Cancer Screening Program
Our lung screening program is a comprehensive care program combining imaging services, respiratory care services, and a patient navigator. Patients who are considered high-risk for lung cancer are eligible for the program, which involves:
- Face-to-face discussion about the pros and cons of lung cancer screening to ensure shared decision making
- Standardized low-dose chest CT
- Chest CT interpretation by radiologists with expertise in chest imaging
- Lung nodule evaluation care pathway by a multi-disciplinary team including specialists in pulmonary medicine, thoracic surgery, oncology nurse navigation, respiratory care services, and diagnostic radiology
- Tobacco treatment experts integrated with the program through Respiratory Care Services
- Experts in lung cancer diagnosis and treatment