A new lung cancer screening program has been started by the WVU Cancer Institute at WVU Medicine Wheeling Hospital. The program is based on annual chest CT scans and identifies lung cancer at an earlier stage, which has proven to improve patient outcomes.
Robert Herron, III, D.O., thoracic surgeon at the WVU Heart and Vascular Institute at Wheeling Hospital, and Jondavid Pollock, M.D., Ph.D., chair of Radiation Oncology at the WVU Cancer Institute at Wheeling Hospital, lead the program.
To be eligible for the lung cancer screening, participants must meet all of the following criteria:
- Between 50-80 years old
- >20 pack/year smoking history (1 pack per day for 20 years)
- Current smoker or have quit smoking in the past 15 years
- No symptoms of lung cancer
- Patients who currently smoke will be offered smoking cessation options.
A multidisciplinary team at the WVU Cancer Institute at Wheeling Hospital is available to offer the testing to appropriate individuals with a comprehensive discussion of all aspects of screening for lung cancer and treatment, should that be necessary. Members of the team include radiologists, nurse navigators, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, pulmonologists, and chest surgeons.
Those interested in the screening should consult with their healthcare provider.
“Lung cancer remains a common disease in our area and typically presents at an advanced stage with less-than-adequate outcomes,” Dr. Pollock said. “Screening for lung cancer with a low-dose CT scan before symptom development has been proven to reduce the likelihood of advanced disease and, as a result, improve patient outcomes. We are most fortunate to have the financial and personnel backing and involvement of the WVU Cancer Institute and the WVU Heart and Vascular Institute to offer this valuable program to our patients who have trusted Wheeling Hospital for their medical home.”
The WVU Cancer Institute is accredited by the American College of Radiology as a designated Lung Cancer Screening Center.
The clinic will be held in Dr. Herron's office, Tower 1 Suite 104. Appointments are required. Call 304-243-8669.