Lung Cancer Screening

Are you a candidate for lung cancer screening?

You are a candidate for a low-dose CT lung cancer screening if you are asymptomatic (have no related symptoms) and meet each of the following qualifications, depending on which group you are in:

You have Medicare insurance and you:

• Are between 50 and 77 years of age
• Are a current smoker or have quit less than 15 years ago and have a cigarette smoking history of at least one pack a day for 20 years
• Have completed a shared medical decision-making/smoking counseling session prior to scheduling your first lung cancer screening exam
• Have a written order from your provider

You have another insurance plan and you:

• Are between 50 and 80 years of age
• Are a current smoker or have quit less than 15 years ago and have a cigarette smoking history of at least one pack a day for 20 years (or equal to or greater than 20 pack years)
• Have a written order from your provider

Talking to your doctor about lung cancer screening

A physician’s prescription is required for a lung cancer screening so you will first need to discuss with your doctor your interest in getting screened. Once you have a prescription in hand, you can schedule a screening. At Main Line Health we offer numerous lung cancer screening locations throughout the region.

In many cases, lung cancer screening is covered by insurance. There may be a fee, however, depending on which insurance you have. To determine whether a fee would apply, you will need to contact your insurance company in advance to see if lung cancer screening is covered by your plan.

When to expect results and what they mean

A board-certified radiologist will interpret your low-dose CT scan and provide results within 24 hours of the screening. Your results will be sent to your ordering physician for follow-up care.

“Negative” results mean there are no abnormal findings. Based on these results, you will be encouraged to repeat this test once a year for two more years. A “positive” or suspicious result means that there is an abnormal finding; further diagnostic testing may be required. Your lung health navigator will follow up with you and connect you with your ordering physician for further explanation and guidance.