Doctors speak with community about Lung Cancer
Pictured above are (left to right) Marsha Suber, Dr. Diana Santiago, Dr. Windy Dean-Colomb and Dr. Shankar Kandaswamy.
Special to The Paper
On October 24, Piedmont Newnan Hospital hosted a Dinner with a Doc in the Thomas F. Chapman Cancer Wellness Center to educate the community about lung cancer, its risk factors and how early detection can help reduce the number of deaths that occur from lung cancer.
Windy Dean-Colomb, M.D., medical oncologist, Diana Santiago, M.D., radiation oncologist, and Shankar Kandaswamy, MD, all participated in the panel discussion, led by Marsha Suber, director of oncology services at Piedmont Newnan.
According to the American Cancer Society, approximately 226,000 new cases of lung cancer are diagnosed in the U.S. each year. Known as the “silent killer,” lung cancer can develop without symptoms early in the disease. Most cases of lung cancer are found in later stages without any symptoms.
Major risk factors for lung cancer include tobacco use and exposure to cancer-causing substances. These substances include many chemicals, gases, and inhaled dust particles found commonly both in the workplace and the environment.
To help detect lung cancer earlier and increase the chances of long-term survival, Piedmont Oncology offers lung cancer screenings using low-dose computed tomography (CT) scans of the lungs for high-risk individuals.
CT lung screening is a test that takes just a few minutes. Research indicates that early detection with a CT screening may reduce the odds of lung cancer death by up to 20% compared to conventional X-rays.
To qualify for a CT Lung Screening, a patient needs to meet the following criteria:
• Age 50-77
• Smoking history of 20 pack years (one pack a day for 20 years or two packs a day for 10 years)
• Current smoker or stopped in the last 15 years or less
• No current pulmonary symptoms, such as worsening cough, coughing up blood, or shortness of breath
• No unexplained weight loss
If you think you may be at risk for lung cancer, call your primary care physician or a pulmonologist to see if you meet the eligibility criteria for a low-dose CT (LDCT) screening exam.
