OPEN TO THE PUBLIC!
Join us Saturday, June 3, 2023 from Noon - 3:00pm at the CCNW South Clinic (601 S Sherman St. Spokane, WA 99202) for the Cancer Care Northwest Lung Cancer Screening Event, in honor of National Cancer Survivor Month
If you are a current/former smoker who meets the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force criteria (see below), OR are an active or retired firefighter that has been exposed to environmental hazards on the job, you may qualify for a low dose CT (LDCT) scan to detect lung cancer at the earliest stages. Exam and scan are free to all firefighters (*badge or ID required).
Screening means testing for a disease when there are no symptoms or history of that disease. Doctors recommend a screening test to find a disease early, when treatment may work better.
The only recommended screening test for lung cancer is low-dose computed tomography (also called a low-dose CT scan, or LDCT). During an LDCT scan, you lie on a table and an X-ray machine uses a low dose (amount) of radiation to make detailed images of your lungs. The scan only takes a few minutes and is not painful.
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends yearly lung cancer screening with LDCT for people who:
A pack-year is smoking an average of one pack of cigarettes per day for one year. For example, a person could have a 20 pack-year history by smoking one pack a day for 20 years or two packs a day for 10 years.
Additionally, we recognize that some professions, such as firefighters, have an increased risk for developing lung cancer due to environmental exposures. For that reason, CCNW is offering complimentary LDCT scans to active and retired firefighters regardless of if they meet the above-mentioned criteria.
Most major insurance providers, including Medicare, will cover the cost of a LDCT scan. Preauthorization is not required.
There may be some private insurance carriers who do require preauthorization. If this applies to you, we will schedule your LDCT scan for a future date, and work on procedure authorization ahead of your appointment. We will have insurance specialists on-site at the event to help you with this process and answer any questions you may have. If you would like more information on your insurance coverage for LDCT scans prior to the event, please contact Tamra Walker, CCNW Patient Advocate, at (509) 228-1049.
If you are an active or retired firefighter, proof of insurance is not required. Your exam, scan, and reading are free regardless of insurance (ID or badge required).
Once your LDCT scan is complete, it will be reviewed by an Inland Imaging radiologist. Depending on the outcome of your scan, future treatment with an oncologist may be needed. Furthermore, qualified candidates (excluding firefighters) will be entered into a national lung cancer registry for future screening and care.
Thank you to the following companies for their support by way of sponsorship! We could not do it without you!
A special thank you to our event partner, Inland Imaging.