Free Lung Cancer Screening Offered Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023 in Three Locations
East Syracuse, NY - With November as Lung Cancer Awareness Month, Hematology/Oncology Associates of CNY (HOA) and CRA Medical Imaging (CRA) are offering FREE lung cancer screenings on Saturday, Nov. 4, 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. in three locations:
- HOA, 5008 Brittonfield Parkway, East Syracuse, NY 13057
- HOA, 4900 Broad Road, Syracuse, NY 13215 (Onondaga Hill)
- Diagnostic Imaging Center, 37 West Garden Street, Auburn, NY 13021
Appointments are required by calling (315) 472-7504, extension 1301. Walk-ins are not allowed.
According to CRA’s CEO, Maryann Drumm, “Joining with HOA to offer this free screening during Lung Cancer Awareness Month is one small way we can increase knowledge of lung-cancer treatment options and smoking cessation programs, to ultimately save lives.”
Who qualifies for a free screening?
This free Lung Cancer Screening is available for people at high risk for lung cancer, meaning they must meet all the following criteria:
- Are 50 to 80 years old
- Are currently a heavy smoker or one who has quit within the last 15 years
-Heavy smoking is defined as:
--one pack of cigarettes per day for 20 years
--two packs of cigarettes per day for 10 years
- Have NOT previously received a free lung cancer screening through this program
Anyone unsure if they meet the guidelines can take our simple quiz at hoacny.com/lungscreening.
Is it really free?
This annual clinic is absolutely free as a community service from HOA and CRA. However, anyone who meets the above criteria can contact HOA or CRA at any time to arrange a lung cancer screening at a time convenient for them. In most cases insurance will pay for the procedure. The procedure also can be paid out-of-pocket for approximately $175.
What does the screening involve?
The only recommended screening test for lung cancer is low-dose computed tomography (also called a low-dose CT scan, or LDCT). During an LDCT scan, the patient lies on a table fully clothed and the CT scanner uses a small amount of radiation to make detailed 3-D images of their lungs. The scan takes less than five minutes and is not painful. While this scan will expose you to a low-dose of radiation, LDCT uses 75% less radiation than a traditional CT scan and shows more detail than a standard chest X-ray.
Why get screened?
“Lung cancer screening is a regular preventive health check, like a mammogram or a colonoscopy, and most people who get screened do not have cancer” explains Kavitha Prezzano, M.D., a radiation oncologist from HOA. “The low-dose CT can detect changes in your lungs from year to year and may catch any new findings earlier than if you were to wait for symptoms to occur. With this information, we can intervene sooner with any necessary medical care.”
What happens after the screening?
All screening patients will be encouraged to share results with their primary care physician. With permission, the HOA and CRA Imaging staff can directly send a patient’s results to any physician they choose.
“A lung cancer screening may find nothing or it may find something abnormal or suspicious. An abnormality does not always mean it’s a cancer, but that it may need closer follow up or may need additional testing,” explains Prezzano.
“The value of annual lung screenings is the opportunity to find lung cancer at an early stage where we have the greatest likelihood of curing it.”
Based on results, patients are welcome, but not required, to seek follow-up care with an HOA physician and our Thoracic Nurse Navigator (TNN). The TNN supports the care of any lung disease patient from pre-diagnosis through all phases of treatment. She works with patients and their families to help overcome healthcare system barriers and facilitate access to quality medical and psychosocial care. The TNN can also facilitate referrals for a smoking cessation program at HOA.
About Hematology-Oncology Associates of CNY
HOA is a private community cancer center established in 1982 with a mission provide the highest level of quality care in a healing environment for the mind, body and spirit of patients dealing with cancer and blood disorders. A member of the Community Oncology Alliance, HOA has offices in Auburn, Camillus, East Syracuse and Onondaga Hill. HOA achieves its mission with a multi-faceted team dedicated to holistic, patient-centered care, and is the only cancer practice in CNY Certified for Quality by The American Society of Clinical Oncology. HOA also serves as an oncology medical home (OMH) which means all care plans center around what is best for the patient. With an emphasis on quality of care versus quantity, OMH patients generally experience lower costs, higher satisfaction, reduced medical errors, and are better-informed. For more information visit hoacny.com.
About CRA Medical Imaging
CRA Medical Imaging (CRA) is one of the largest radiology groups in Central New York providing imaging services and procedures in a range of specialties. Continually investing in the latest technologies, CRA offers care in Syracuse, Auburn, Fulton, Hamilton and Oswego with certified and experienced staff. All CRA facilities are accredited by the American College of Radiology in Mammography, Computed Tomography (CT), Nuclear Medicine and digital PET/CT, providing patients a higher standard of imaging quality, care, and radiation dose protection. For more information, visit craimaging.com.
