Lung cancer is the #1 cause of cancer death in Vermont, but getting screened can save your life. Lung cancer screening can find cancer early, when it’s easier to treat.
Read the latest press release to learn more: UVM, Dartmouth, VTAAC Launch Public Education Program Promoting Early Detection of Lung Cancer.
Lung cancer screening looks for lung cancer before you have symptoms. It involves a quick and painless CT scan (a special type of x-ray) that takes multiple pictures to help doctors get a good look at your lungs.
You should talk with your doctor about getting screened if:
1 |
You are 50-80 years old. Medicare and Medicaid cover the cost of the test for people 50-77 years old. Because of that, some hospitals in Vermont may only provide screening for people 50-77 years old. |
2 |
You smoke cigarettes or quit in the last 15 years. |
3 |
You have smoked at least 20 pack-years. Lung cancer screening might be right for you if you have smoked at least 20 pack-years. That is the equivalent of 1 pack of cigarettes per day for 20 years. For example:
To figure out your pack-years, click here. |
Questions about the screening test
What are the benefits of getting screened?
Lung cancer is often caught late but lung cancer screening can find cancer early, when it’s easier to treat. Lung cancer screening is recommended for people at high risk for lung cancer because it improves their chances of living.
What are the risks of getting screened?
As with many health tests and procedures, lung cancer screening does have some risks you should talk about with your doctor. Here are some things to think about.
-
- Having a false positive result: When doctors see something on your CT scan that could be lung cancer, this is called a ‘positive’ result. Until more tests are done, though, you won’t know whether it really is lung cancer or if it was a false alarm because it wasn’t really cancer. For some people, this can be very stressful.
- Finding other potential health concerns: While doctors are looking at your CT scan to see if you could have lung cancer, they may also see some other things in your lungs and other parts of your chest that could be health concerns and might need to be looked at further. For some people, it could be a good thing that they’re learning more about their health. For other people, this could be a bad thing since they only wanted to know about lung cancer.
- Being exposed to radiation: The CT scan used for lung cancer screening is a low-dose CT scan—meaning, the radiation used in the scan is at a low level. In fact, it involves 90% less radiation than typical chest CT scans for other purposes. Even still, being exposed to this radiation yearly may be a concern for you.
Visit ShouldIScreen.com to learn more about the benefits and risks of lung cancer screening and to find out your risk of getting lung cancer.
What’s involved in getting screened?
If this is your first time getting screened for lung cancer, you will need to talk with your doctor first. Your doctor will need to go over your health history and talk with you about the benefits and risks of getting screened. Together, you will decide if getting screened is right for you.
If you decide to get screened, your doctor will refer you to a hospital where the CT scan (also called a CAT scan) will happen. You may or may not have to put on a hospital gown, then the staff will have you lie on your back on a table that is connected to the CT scanner. The staff will have you put your arms above your head and will make sure you’re in a good position for the CT scan to work. You’ll be asked to hold your breath for 5 to 10 seconds while the table moves into the donut-shaped CT scanner. The CT scanner will take all the pictures in that 5 to 10 seconds, so it’s very quick. CT is not an MRI scan, which some people might find claustrophobic.
How long does the scan take?
Most hospitals will schedule you for a 30-minute appointment to give time for things like paperwork and changing your clothes. The scan itself only takes about 10 seconds, though.
What happens if they find something on my scan?
When doctors are looking at the pictures from your CT scan, they are looking for something called a lung nodule. A lung nodule is a growth that can sometimes be lung cancer. If your CT scan shows that you have a lung nodule, your doctors may recommend that you have another CT scan in 3-6 months to see if the nodule has grown or changed since the first scan. They may also recommend other tests to decide if the nodule is cancer.
Questions about how to get screened
I want to get screened! What do I do now?
Talk with your doctor! Let your doctor know that you’ve learned about lung cancer screening and are interested in seeing if it’s right for you.
What if I don’t have a doctor? How can I get screened?
If you don’t have a regular doctor of your own, Dartmouth Health’s Pulmonary team can help you. You can schedule an appointment with one of their healthcare providers to discuss lung cancer screening.
For self-referrals to the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Lung Health Clinic (formerly known as the Pulmonary Nodule Clinic), please call (603) 650-8537.
To find a regular doctor in the University of Vermont Health Network, visit https://www.uvmhealth.org/medcenter/find-medical-providers.
Questions about who should get screened
Who is lung cancer screening recommended for?
Lung cancer screening might be right for you if you:
- Are 50-80 years old,
- Smoke cigarettes or quit in the last 15 years, and
- Have smoked at least 20 pack-years. That is the equivalent of 1 pack of cigarettes per day for 20 years. For example:
- 1 pack x 20 years
- 2 packs x 10 years
- ½ pack x 40 years
To figure out your pack-years, click here.
What if I don’t meet all three criteria to get screened?
If you do not meet all three criteria or you’re not sure, please review your history with your doctor and see what they recommend.
I feel healthy. Should I still consider getting screened?
Yes, lung cancer screening is meant for people who do not have symptoms.
If you have symptoms like a cough or chest pain, talk with your doctor as you may need a different test.
I got screened before, and it was a negative (good) result. Why do I need to get screened every year?
Lung cancer screening is recommended every year that you meet these three criteria:
- Are 50-80 years old,
- Smoke cigarettes or quit in the last 15 years, and
- Have smoked the equivalent of at least 1 pack per day for 20 years.
The reason getting screened every year is so important is because the smaller or earlier the cancer is, the better the chance it can be cured. Studies have shown that having a scan every year gives doctors the best chance of catching lung cancer when it can still be cured.
What if I have symptoms, like a cough?
Lung cancer screening is meant for people who do not have symptoms.
If you have symptoms like a cough or chest pain, it is important that you seek medical attention as soon as possible. This includes talking with your doctor as they may recommend additional testing.
Questions about finding and getting to a screening location
Where can I get screened in Vermont?
As of May 2022, the following Vermont hospitals provide lung cancer screening:
|
Hospital |
Address |
Phone Number |
|
Central Vermont Medical Center |
130 Fisher Rd |
802-371-4100 |
|
Copley Hospital |
528 Washington Hwy |
802-888-8888 |
|
Mt. Ascutney Hospital and Health Center |
289 County Rd |
802-674-7053 |
|
North Country Hospital |
189 Prouty Dr |
802-334-4145 |
|
Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital |
1315 Hospital Dr |
802-748-7466 |
|
Northwestern Medical Center |
133 Fairfield St |
802-524-8447 |
|
Rutland Regional Medical Center |
160 Allen St |
802-772-2560 |
|
Southwestern Vermont Medical Center |
100 Hospital Drive |
802-447-5541 |
|
University of Vermont Medical Center |
111 Colchester Ave |
802-847-0000 |
|
University of Vermont Medical Center- Fanny Allen Campus |
790 College Pkwy |
802-847-7525 |
For additional information or to find a lung cancer screening location outside of Vermont, click here.
What if I don’t have or can’t afford transportation to get to my screening appointment?
When you schedule your CT scan appointment, we encourage you to let the coordinator know that you are concerned about transportation. This is a common concern, and some hospitals have resources and supports available for patients.
We know that transportation can be especially challenging in rural parts of Vermont, such as the Northeast Kingdom and the Rutland area. If you live in these areas, please discuss options with your provider if you have any transportation concerns.
Questions about cost and paying for screening
How much does screening cost?
Most people in VT will be covered through Medicare/Medicaid/Private insurance coverage. If you meet the criteria for lung cancer screening described above, the cost of the screening CT scan is covered in Vermont by Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance.
If you have no insurance (in other words, Medicare, Medicaid, or private insurance) the cost of screening can vary, but the scan itself can cost about $100-400, though there may be additional hospital fees. When you call the hospital to schedule your appointment, you can ask about the cost of screening at their facility. If you have insurance, we encourage you to also speak with your insurance company about whether they cover screening.
Does insurance cover screening?
Most insurance plans cover lung cancer screening for people who are at high-risk for lung cancer. This insurance coverage webpage from ShouldIScreen.com gives you more information about how different types of insurance handle lung cancer screening. Because every insurance plan can be different, you should contact your insurance company to know what they will cover and if there will be any costs to you. This worksheet from the American Lung Association can help guide you through talking with your insurance company about lung cancer screening.
What if I don’t have insurance?
Talk with your doctor and with the hospital where you plan to get your CT scan done. Most hospitals have financial assistance programs to support patients who don’t have insurance. Here are the phone numbers for the financial assistance programs at a few hospitals where you might be thinking about getting screened:
|
Hospital |
Phone Number |
|
Central Vermont Medical Center |
802-847-6984 |
|
Copley Hospital |
802-888-8336 |
|
Mt. Ascutney Hospital and Health Center |
802-674-7471 |
|
North Country Hospital |
802-334-3273 802-334-3274 |
|
Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital |
802-748-7466 |
|
Northwestern Medical Center |
802-748-7518 |
|
Rutland Regional Medical Center |
802-747-1648 |
|
Southwestern Vermont Medical Center |
802-440-4083 |
|
University of Vermont Medical Center |
802-847-8000 |
Questions about quitting tobacco
I want to quit tobacco. Where can I go for help?
Most Vermonters who smoke want to quit. You may be one of them, or know someone who is trying to quit tobacco. Although it can be hard, with the right tools and support, you can do it.
Research shows that it can take 8 to 11 tries before a successful quit. With each attempt, you learn something new about yourself and what makes it hard. 802Quits is here to support you in your attempt. 802Quits offers a friendly and experienced coach, free tips, tools, and support—including free patches and gum or lozenges. Visit 802Quits.org or call 1-800-QUIT-NOW to get started.
Lung cancer is the #1 cause of cancer death in Vermont, but getting screened can save your life. Lung cancer screening can find cancer early, when it’s easier to treat.
Lung cancer screening looks for lung cancer before you have symptoms. It involves a quick and painless CT scan (a special type of x-ray) that takes multiple pictures to help doctors get a good look at your lungs.
You should talk with your doctor about getting screened if:
|
1 |
You are 50-80 years old. Medicare and Medicaid cover the cost of the test for people 50-77 years old. Because of that, some hospitals in Vermont may only provide screening for people 50-77 years old. |
|
2 |
You smoke cigarettes or quit in the last 15 years. |
|
3 |
You have smoked at least 20 pack-years. Lung cancer screening might be right for you if you have smoked at least 20 pack-years. That is the equivalent of 1 pack of cigarettes per day for 20 years. For example:
To figure out your pack-years, click here. |