Center for Cancer Care

Early screening can save your life. Ten million people in the United States are eligible for lung cancer screening. Are you one of them?

Why Choose St. Luke's Lung Cancer Screening Program
St. Luke's Lung Cancer Screening Program has been named a Center of Excellence by the Lung Cancer Alliance, the leading organization dedicated to saving lives and advancing research by empowering those living with and at risk for lung cancer.

Why Early Detection Is Important
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death, with more people dying of lung cancer than breast, colon and prostate cancers combined. But, there is hope! The goal of the low-dose CT lung cancer screening is to detect lung cancer when it is very small and more likely to be curable.

How the Screening Works
Unlike a chest x-ray which produces flat, two-dimensional images of the lungs, a non-invasive CT scan is able to produce a three-dimensional image of the lungs, giving a more detailed report about the volume and shape of lung abnormalities. These nodules, or masses of tissue, are actually quite common and are usually non-cancerous. By using the CT scan, our team will be able to detect the size and shape of any suspected lung nodules and their likelihood to be cancerous. This test is not a substitute for tobacco cessation programs.

Results
Patients will receive a letter with the results of their screening exam. If the scan shows one or more nodules, they may be referred for further testing and consultation. As a nurse navigator is available to assist in coordinating care between you and your doctors.

Cost
Medicare and most insurance plans cover lung cancer screenings without a copay for people who meet the criteria. Our staff can help you check your benefits and eligibility.

Risks
Low-dose screening CT exams contain ionizing radiation which can, in theory, be harmful to the patient. The amount of radiation from a typical lung cancer screening test is less than one-third of the amount of radiation that the average U.S. citizen experiences in one year. Often, there are small "spots" (nodules) seen on a screening CT test that require CT follow-up. In most cases: 1) these do not represent lung cancer; 2) insurance and Medicare may cover the cost of these limited CT follow-up examinations.

Who Should Consider Having the Screening
Nationally, it has been determined that low-dose CT lung cancer screenings should be performed annually on adults who meet the following criteria:

• Are you a current or former cigarette smoker ages 50-80?
  Medicare (50-77 years of age)
• A smoking history of at least 20 pack-years (meaning one pack a day for 20 years; 2 packs a day for 10 years; etc.)
• If a former smoker, stopped within the last 15 years
• No signs or symptoms of lung cancer

If you are in this group, you are at the highest risk for lung cancer and screening may be an option for you.

Scheduling
Lung cancer screening requires an annual visit and a written order from your healthcare provider. For more information, call our nurse navigator, at 314-205-6550.

The Appointment Process
Although actual scan time is about ten to fifteen minutes, patients should allow one hour for their appointment.

Convenient Screening Locations
St. Luke's Hospital
232 South Woods Mill Road • Chesterfield, MO 63017 | 314-434-1500

St. Luke’s Des Peres Hospital
2345 Dougherty Ferry Road • St. Louis, MO 63122 | 314-966-9100

Chesterfield Valley RAYUS
6 McBride and Son Center Drive, Suite 101 • Chesterfield, MO 63005 | 636-519-7865

Ellisville RAYUS
19 Clarkson Road • Ellisville, MO 63011 | 636-733-8989

Frontenac RAYUS
10333-A Clayton Road • Frontenac, MO 63131 | 314-567-9729

South County RAYUS
6940 S. Lindbergh Boulevard • St. Louis, MO 63125 | 314-209-5051

WingHaven RAYUS
5551 WingHaven Boulevard • Suite 60O • O'Fallon, MO 63368 | 636-625-4434

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