The Christ Hospital Health Network Develops Program to Beat Lung Cancer
Early detection saves lives
11/20/2017
November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month—shedding light on the nation’s leading cause of cancer deaths. Lung cancer is by far the leading cause of cancer death among both men and women, with one out of four cancer deaths resulting from lung cancer. The impact is definitely felt here locally—Kentucky leads the nation in both lung cancer incidents and mortality, and lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in Ohio as well. One reason why lung cancer is so deadly is because by the time you have symptoms, it may already have spread and become more difficult to treat. However, a new program is helping patients identify the condition earlier on, when it is easier to treat.
The Christ Hospital Health Network is on a mission to combat lung cancer with increased lung cancer awareness and tools to promote earlier detection including a lung screening program targeted to those at risk. The program is led by lung nurse navigator, Tina DeStefanis-Griffiths, who has seen screening save the lives of many people in the Tristate.
“If we can find lung cancer at an early stage, it often can be treated effectively with surgery and even cured. Medicare and most insurance plans now cover the screening for people at risk. I highly recommend everyone who meets the criteria should take time for this quick and painless screening,” said DeStefanis-Griffiths. “Our low dose CT screening for lung cancer is safe, efficient and saves lives every year.”
Dennis Hays, a 60-year-old local man, heard about lung cancer screening through his primary care physician. Like many other baby boomers, Hays smoked throughout the majority of his adult life. He started 40 years ago when the health effects of smoking were fairly unknown. “My physician told me Medicare now covers this lung screening and I was a good candidate due to my smoking history,” Hays said.
Despite being completely without symptoms, Dennis’s screening did reveal a spot on his lung which was eventually diagnosed as early stage cancer after further evaluation. He had surgery at The Christ Hospital shortly after his diagnosis to remove the cancer and is now grateful for his positive outcome. “My physicians say this screening saved my life, and I believe them,” Hays says.
“There are so many other people out there we can help, similar to Dennis,” DeStefanis-Griffiths said. “The National Lung Screening trial, 320 individuals need to be screened to prevent one lung cancer death. Due to the higher prevalence of lung cancer in our region, our program has detected cancer in one out of every 111 patients we screen. That means there are a lot more lives out there to save here in the Tristate.”
The lung program at The Christ Hospital was recently named a Screening Center of Excellence by the Lung Cancer Alliance (LCA) for its ongoing commitment to responsible lung cancer screening. As a Designated Screening Centers of Excellence, The Christ Hospital provides clear information based on current evidence on who is a candidate for lung cancer screening, and to comply with comprehensive standards based on best practices developed by professional bodies such as the American College of Radiology (ACR), the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) and the International Early Lung Cancer Action Program (I-ELCAP) for controlling screening quality, radiation dose and diagnostic procedures within an experienced, multi-disciplinary clinical setting.
People meeting the following criteria are excellent candidates for a CT lung screening:
• Age 55-77
• No signs or symptoms of lung cancer
• Are a current smoker or have quit within the last 15 years
• Have a tobacco smoking history of at least 30 pack years (one pack-year = smoking one pack per day for one year; 1 pack = 20 cigarettes)
Screenings require a physician referral and are conveniently available at locations throughout the Tristate. If you would like more information or to discuss whether a screening may be right for you, contact Tina at 513-585-0690 or email Tina.DestefanisGriffiths@TheChristHospital.com.
About The Christ Hospital Health Network: The Christ Hospital Health Network is an acute-care hospital located in Mt. Auburn with six ambulatory centers and dozens of offices conveniently located throughout the region. More than 1,200 talented physicians and 5,800 dedicated employees support the Network. Its mission is to improve the health of the community and to create patient value by providing exceptional outcomes, the finest experiences, all in an affordable way. The Network has been recognized by Forbes Magazine as the 24th best large employer in the nation in the magazine’s “America’s 500 Best Large Employers” listing and by National Consumer Research as the region’s “Most Preferred Hospital” for 21 consecutive years. The Network is dedicated to transforming care by delivering integrated, personalized healthcare through its comprehensive, multi-specialty physician network. The Christ Hospital is among only six percent of hospitals in the nation to be awarded “Magnet” recognition for nursing excellence and among the top five percent of hospitals in the country for patient satisfaction. For more than 125 years, The Christ Hospital has provided compassionate care to those it serves.