Karmanos Cancer Institute partners with nation’s top cancer organizations to endorse initiative to increase lung cancer screening in the United States


 Karmanos Cancer Institute partners with nation’s top cancer organizations to endorse initiative to increase lung cancer
screening in the United States

DETROIT, PRNewswire -- The Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer
Institute has partnered with more than 50 cancer organizations across the country to issue a call to action urging individuals, providers and insurers to increase access to and utilization of low-dose computed tomography (CT) scans for those at high risk for lung cancer.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the United
States, accounting for almost 25% of all cancer deaths. Despite
advances in treatment and successful efforts to reduce smoking, the disease kills more than 350 people in the U.S. each day — but it doesn’t have to be this way. If all people who should be screened for lung cancer got screened, we can save tens of thousands of lives, and tens of millions of dollars. Lung cancer is so deadly because it is most often diagnosed at an advanced stage when treatment options are limited and outcomes are poor.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends annual
screening for people ages 50-80 who have smoked for at least 20
years. However, only 5.7% of eligible Americans were screened for lung cancer before the COVID-19 pandemic — compared to screening rates for breast, cervical and colon cancers that hover between 60% and 80%. And we know screening rates have
decreased for all cancers due to the pandemic.

The new effort also aligns with and supports the national Cancer
Moonshot initiative, which aims to reduce cancer deaths by 50% over the next 25 years. Lung cancer screening is one easy way to help reach that goal. This call to action provides guidance for national support, including public funding and health policy changes needed to significantly improve lung cancer screening participation.

Two major barriers to screening are coverage and access. While
low-dose CT screening for lung cancer is covered by Medicare and most private insurance plans, the pre-authorization process can delay the procedure by several days and place an unnecessary burden on community providers. Additionally, a recent study by the American Cancer Society found that at least 5% of those eligible for low-dose CT scans live more than 40 miles from a screening facility — and that percentage jumps to nearly 25% for screening-eligible individuals in rural areas.

If a patient is eligible for lung cancer screenings, they should
inquire with their primary care physician about Karmanos’ Lung
Cancer Screening Program. For more information, visit karmanos.org/ lungscreening or call 1-800-KARMANOS.

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