Lung Cancer

Treatment of Lung Cancer

Information from American Cancer Society

Information includes about Lung Cancer, causes, risk factors, diagnosis and treatment.

Lung Cancer Screening Program

How Lung Cancer Screening Program works

Screening for lung cancer is a process, and cannot be completed with a single test. The data available show that individuals who do qualify for lung cancer screening should have a yearly screening CT scan.

Physician Office visit - The screening process includes a visit with a Karmanos provider, a lung cancer specialist, to discuss risks and benefits of lung cancer screening
CT scans - Those who are eligible for the program (generally older adults who have at least a 30-pack-year smoking history) have annual low-dose CT scans.
Scan review - A Karmanos radiologist will review the patient’s CT scans for abnormalities and track any yearly changes. We will send the patient’s primary health care provider copies of the results.
Follow-up care - The radiologist may recommend follow up with either a Karmanos specialist or primary health care provider for further tests.

Is this covered by insurance?

Medicare and many private insurance companies now cover the cost of lung cancer screening CT scans. Patients should check with their health insurance plan to determine if this is a covered benefit.
Your patient will be responsible for any deductible and/or co-pay, per their insurance policy.
If an abnormality is found, future scans and further workup should be covered by insurance.

Why should I refer my patient to the Lung Cancer Screening Program?

The Karmanos is a National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center. Karmanos is the only hospital in Michigan dedicated exclusively to fighting cancer. The Thoracic Oncology Multidisciplinary Team at the Karmanos Cancer Center participating in this program includes surgeons, medical oncologists, pulmonologists, radiation oncologists, radiologists, pathologists, and research coordinators. The experts on this team focus primarily on the diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer and therefore have a level of expertise that other centers may not have. In addition, lung cancer screening may indicate further follow up that requires this level of expertise.

How to refer your patient

Simply send an email to screening@karmanos.org, or call us at 1-800-KARMANOS (1-800-527-6266), with your name and contact information, as well as your patients name and contact information, and a member of our staff will contact you or your patient, depending on your preference, regarding program eligibility.
Have the patient fill out a participation form after reviewing the information on this page.

Lung Cancer Screening Form

Quitting Smoking Resources

Karmanos offers recommended resources for health care professionals to review to help encourage patients to quit. Click here to access these resources.