PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Temple University Health System has launched a system-wide lung cancer screening program. Its purpose is to catch the disease early, in the hope of saving lives.
The new Temple Healthy Chest Initiative will combine and expand successful screening programs already in place at Temple University Hospital and Fox Chase Cancer Center to detect lung cancer.
Temple Health’s Dr. Gerard Criner is heading the initiative, which is fully covered by insurance for those who meet eligibility requirements. He says detecting the disease in its earliest stages is key.
“Lung cancer is the most common cancer in men, the third most common in women and a major cause of most cancer deaths,” explained Criner. “Determining the presence of lung cancer at early stages allows curative therapies such as surgery.”
During the screenings, Criner says, doctors will analyze the images they collect for other health conditions. “This includes the presence of heart disease, gastrointestinal problems or other comorbid conditions of the lungs [such as] interstitial lung disease and patients with airway wall abnormalities,” he said.
The Pennsylvania Department of Health named cancer the second leading cause of death in the state. More than 79,000 Pennsylvanians total were diagnosed with invasive cancers in 2019, and nearly 28,000 people died. Lung cancer is listed as one of the four leading types of cancer in Pennsylvania, along with breast, prostate and colorectal cancers.
Criner says the lung cancer screening takes just 10 minutes and requires no preparation on the patient’s part. “Patients can come to any Temple Health location and be screened at any of the facilities,” he said.
If the screening finds any abnormalities indicating lung cancer or another condition, a dedicated nurse navigator will call the patient to explain their results and help to coordinate follow-up care with a Temple specialist.
CORRECTION: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated the initiative is free. It is fully covered by insurance for those who meet eligibility requirements.