Smoking is the primary risk factor for lung cancer and is linked to between 80 and 85 percent of lung cancer cases in the U.S. Screening has been shown to reduce lung cancer deaths by as much as 20 percent, according to the National Lung Screening Trial.
The CommonSpirit Health lung cancer screening program utilizes low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) scans to detect cancer early in high-risk individuals, significantly improving survival rates.
Our multidisciplinary approach typically includes pulmonologists, radiologists, thoracic surgeons, and nurse navigators.
National guidelines recommend annual lung cancer screening for:
- Adults 50 to 80 with a history of smoking 20 or more packs a year and who currently smoke or quit within the past 15 years.
To figure out your pack years, multiply how many packs a day on average (assuming 20 cigarettes per pack) you have smoked by how many years you have smoked. For example:
- If you smoked 1 pack a day for 20 years, that's 1 X 20. Meaning you have a smoking history of 20 pack years.
- If you smoked 2 packs a day for 10 years, that's 2 X 10 = 20 pack years. Meaning you have a smoking history of 20 pack years.
Based on your screening results:
- Negative/benign: Annual repeat low-dose CT (LDCT) screening is recommended.
- Nodules/abnormalities detected: We offer a clear pathway for further evaluation, which may include follow-up scans, PET scans, or biopsies.
Our medical team will communicate all diagnostic findings and create a personalized care plan while adhering to national guidelines.
Talk to your primary care physician to see if you meet eligibility for screening. The CommonSpirit Health lung cancer screening programs below will work with you and your physician to assist in the screening process:
- Penrose/St. Francis Hospital Lung Care Program: 719-776-6997
- St. Mary-Corwin and St. Thomas More hospital: 719-557-4408
- St. Anthony Hospital: 720-321-0400
- St. Anthony North Hospital: 303-426-2400
- St. Anthony Summit Hospital: 970-668-9595
- Longmont United Hospital: 303-651-5121
- St. Catherine Hospital - Dodge City: 620-225-8400
- St. Elizabeth Hospital: 970-867-3391
The CommonSpirit Mountain Region Cancer Network is committed to keeping our communities healthy through prevention, early detection, and treatment.
FAQs about the CommonSpirit Health Lung Cancer Screening Program
During your low dose CT scan of the lungs, you lie on your back on a long table. You may be given a pillow to make you more comfortable. The technologist running your scan will move to a separate room where he or she can still see and talk with you. You'll be asked to lie very still as the table slides through the center of a large machine that creates images of your lungs. You may be asked to hold your breath briefly in order to create a clear picture of your lungs. Expect your appointment to last about a half-hour, though the actual scan takes less than a minute.
Low dose CT imaging of the lungs gives detailed images of slices of the lung, and is far more sensitive in detecting abnormalities than a conventional chest x-ray. The scan is painless, takes just a few minutes, and is associated with minimal radiation risk.
All scans will be interpreted by a specially-trained radiologist. If suspicious abnormalities are found, a patient may be asked to get more frequent imaging, different imaging, or even a biopsy to determine if the lesion is cancerous. Abnormal scans are reviewed by a multidisciplinary panel of physicians in order to achieve the best plan of additional testing.
Firefighters in El Paso County, Colorado
Firefighters in El Paso County, Colorado can participate in a free lung cancer screening program launched at St. Francis and Penrose hospitals in Colorado Springs. This program seeks to address the significant lung cancer vulnerability firefighters face as a result of their work.
