Please Join Us at VBCH for FREE Coffee and Donuts!
The American Cancer Society National Lung Cancer Roundtable (ACS NLCRT), American College of Radiology® (ACR), and Radiology Health Equity Coalition (RHEC) have partnered once again for the second annual National Lung Cancer Screening Day (“National LCS Day”) on Saturday, November 11, 2023.
As a key initiative of Lung Cancer Awareness Month, and in partnership with the ACS NLCRT, ACR, RHEC, and Veteran’s Health Administration, we are promoting this lifesaving event to help more individuals get screened and raise awareness about lung cancer screening. The President’s Cancer Panel recommends lung cancer screening as the single most effective strategy for reducing mortality from the disease and helping to close the gap to improve health equity and access to care. To achieve this goal, the President’s Cancer Panel has charged individuals, health systems, and communities with communicating and promoting lung cancer screening.
Ten years have passed since the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) first recommended low-dose CT (LDCT) for lung cancer screening, yet lung cancer screening rates remain low with fewer than 1 in 10 eligible individuals undergoing annual LDCT screening. This is a striking contrast to more established screening tests for other cancers, including screening mammography (about 67%), colorectal cancer screening (about 69%), and cervical cancer screening (around 74%)3 .
Access to and utilization of lung cancer screening has been particularly challenging for rural and racial/ethnic minority groups, who face the following barriers:
• Likely to live more than 30 minutes away from a designated screening center
• May be underinsured
• May have lower health literacy levels
• May have inadequate access to care Low utilization rates for lung cancer screening present an opportunity for patient and caregiver advocates, community health organizations, medical professionals, cancer centers, health systems, payers, and industry partners to work together to promote health equity, reduce health care disparities, and enhance accessibility to lifesaving and effective lung cancer screening.
Van Buren County Hospital is opening their doors to patients on Saturday, November 11, 2023 from 8am-10am. Provider referral is required, please schedule your appointment sometime in October to ensure you qualify for this screening, call: 319-293-8732. All qualified screeners on 11/11 will receive complementary coffee and donuts from VBCH.
National LCS Day is meant to serve as a catalyst for year-round screening awareness efforts. Rather than waiting until November to work lung screening into their routine, patients and clinicians alike are encouraged to make accessible screening a year-round priority. Please join the lung cancer community for National LCS Day on Saturday, November 11, 2023.
