Lung Cancer Screening
Lung cancer is a disease in which cancer cells form in the tissues of the lung. There are two types of lung cancer: small cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer.
Individuals who meet certain criteria are recommended to be screened for lung cancer using low-dose computed tomography (CT).
Screening Recommendations
The choice of when to be screened is a shared decision between a health-care provider and patient, based on personal and family health history and other risk factors.
The American Cancer Society recommends lung cancer screening for individuals who:
- Are 50 to 80 years old and are in reasonably good health and
- Currently smoke or have quit in the past 15 years and
- Have at least a 20-pack-year smoking history (a 20-pack-year or more smoking history refers to the number of packs of cigarettes per day multiplied by the number of years smoked)
Read the full guidance from the American Cancer Society.
Please note: Other cancer-related organizations may have different screening recommendations. All recommendations change based on new research evidence.
Patient Navigation to Lung Cancer Screening
The Ralph Lauren Center provides individual navigation services to assist individuals who need to be screened for lung cancer. Screening is provided through MedStar Health. The RLC’s patient navigators assist patients regardless of insurance or ability to pay and continue to navigate patients through follow-up care. All services provided by the RLC are also offered in Spanish by our bilingual navigators.
Please call our patient navigators to schedule your screening and navigation services appointment at 202-784-2720. (Se habla español: 202-784-2705.)