Did you know…
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Every 3.3 minutes someone in the US dies of lung cancer.
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Lung cancer kills almost two times as many women as breast cancer and has held that position for more than 30 years.
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Maine lung cancer rates are 30% higher than the national average.
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With expanded eligibility from most insurance companies, more people are eligible for lung cancer screening. Nine million Americans are eligible for screening, but only 10% of eligible patients are screened.
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The five-year survival rate for people diagnosed with late-stage lung cancer is approximately 5%. But the good news is, lung cancer screenings with a low dose CT scan take only five minutes, require no IV’s, and are designed to detect cancers at an early, potentially curable, stage when patients have no signs or symptoms of lung cancer.
On Saturday, November 9, Northern Light Health recognized National Lung Cancer Screening Day, by screening an additional 24 patients at our Bangor location. Call your Primary Care Provider; be honest about your smoking history; and, if you are eligible, ask for an order to be placed for you to receive a scan at a Northern Light Health location near you.
John Klemperer, MD, physician, Northern Light Cardiothoracic Surgery, states, “I want to acknowledge Lung Cancer Awareness Month and promote the life-saving work of our lung cancer screening team. Their dedication to early detection and prevention saves lives and ensures a healthier future for those at risk. It is crucial that we continue to support and raise awareness for these vital screening initiatives, as they play a pivotal role in supporting the mission to conquer lung cancer."
Even if you are currently a smoker, it's important to know that you can still undergo a screening, as early detection is essential in improving health outcomes. American Cancer Society can provide support to help people quit smoking for good. For more information, to connect with the free telephone quit line, or to access resources to help make a plan to quit, visit https://www.cancer.org/
To learn more about screening at Northern Light locations around Maine visit, https://northernlighthealth.org/EMMCLCS