By NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson Regional Medical Center Imaging Services Department is a Lung Cancer Screening Center. It's important to note that those who need to be screened meet certain criteria. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force has recommended since March of 2021 that sdults aged 50 to 80 years who have a 20 pack-year smoking history and currently smoke or have quit within the past 15 years be screened for lung cancer. Jean Gettle, RN, the nurse navigator for the screening program, explains what constitutes a pack-year.
"A pack a day for 20 years would be a 20 pack-year," Gettle said. "A pack a day for 30 years would be a 30 pack-year."
If a person started smoking when they were 18, quit when they were 38 and turned 50, they would fall under the latest guidelines.
"You want to get in and get as early a baseline done as possible," Gettle said. "It is done annually. After that, it's based on recommendation. Depending on what's seen, you could be doing a six-month follow up, a three-month follow up or an annual follow up."
The only recommended screening test for lung cancer is low-dose computed tomography (also called a low-dose CT scan).
"It takes about five minutes for the whole scan itself to complete," Gettle said. "Then, they will receive a letter within the next few days with their results and any follow-ups that need to be taken will either go through their doctor or we'll send them through the lung nodule clinic.
Lung cancer screening is recommended only for adults who are at high risk for developing the disease because of their smoking history and age, and who do not have a health problem that substantially limits their life expectancy or their ability or willingness to have lung surgery, if needed.