The state, American Cancer Society and 5 facilities will offer lung cancer screening this week.
Delaware on Saturday, Nov. 12, will become the first to offer statewide lung cancer screening, using five facilities up and down the state.
The day was chosen deliberately to remove barriers for people who can’t make it Monday through Friday because they work, or have to rely on someone who does. It also coincides with the American Cancer Society’s National Lung Cancer Screening Day.
The facilities — Bayhealth, Beebe Healthcare, Christiana Care, Tidal Health and Delaware Imaging Network — will offer low-dose CT lung screenings, also known as LDCT. They are quick and painless.
The event is aimed at individuals who have already been referred for that can of screening.
Those people most commonly are aged 55 to 80 who have a history of smoking or exposure to environmental risk factors.
People who are interested in participating should contact their local healthcare provider to determine their eligibility and schedule an appointment.
According to the latest Cancer Incidence and Mortality in Delaware report, lung and bronchus cancer was the leading cause of death from cancer in the First State (38.4 deaths per 100,000 population) in 2016-2020. Lung and bronchus cancer are also the third most common type of cancer (56.9 cases per 100,000 population) following prostate and female breast cancer.
Even so, only a small percentage of individuals get recommended screening tests, and 1 in 10 people at higher risk get screened nationwide.
Last year lung cancer killed 127,000 Americans.
“We are excited to help host Lung Cancer Screening Day and bring together the community to prioritize lung health,” said Dawn Hollinger, of the Delaware Division of Public Health’s Cancer Prevention and Control Bureau. “By increasing awareness and providing access to screenings, we aim to save lives by detecting lung cancer at its earliest stages when treatment options are most effective.”
Lung cancer screenings
To make an appointment, call:
- Bayhealth at 302-744-7060 for Kent County and 302-430-5707 for Sussex.sussex County)
- Beebe Healthcare at 302-645-3278
- ChristianaCare at 302-623-0552
- Delaware Imaging Network at 877-990-2121
- TidalHealth at 410-543-7006
Betsy Price is a Wilmington freelance writer who has 40 years of experience, including 15 at The News Journal in Delaware.
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