Lung Cancer Screening and Treatment in Lexington, KY

Baptist Health Lexington: Lung Cancer Screening and Treatment

Baptist Health Lexington offers lung cancer screenings for early detection and treatment. Learn more about lung cancer diagnosis and treatment options.

Lung Cancer Screening and Treatment in Lexington, KY HealthTalks Transcript

Shawn Peterson, MD, Medical Oncology:
Lung cancer is the third leading cause of cancer-related cases in the U.S., with an estimated 230,000 new lung cancer diagnoses in 2021. In 2015, a new screening test was approved for lung cancer. This is a low-dose CT scan of the chest. How do you know if you qualify for this screening treatment? [You qualify] one, if you’re aged between 50 and 80 years old; two, if you are a current smoker or have quit smoking within the past 15 years; and three, if you have a 20 pack-year smoking history. Lung cancer can be treatable and curable through early detection with our low-dose CT scan screens.

Here at Baptist, we have up to 10 clinical trials involving lung cancer. A clinical trial is involving new cancer care. Most people think about clinical trials as a placebo versus a new treatment option. In cancer, that’s unethical. We give you the standard of care and then add a new medication that we think will help benefit the treatment. These range from new chemotherapies to new targeted therapies involving immunotherapy, as well as gene-specific mutation targeted therapy. Early detection is imperative in cancer treatment. With lung cancer screening, we can reduce mortality by up to 20%.

Next Steps and Useful Resources

Find a Provider
Take Our Free Lung Cancer Risk Assessment
How Lung Cancer Feels – Unexpected Signs, Symptoms
What to Know Before Scheduling Your Lung Cancer Screening