Are you a longtime smoker, or a former heavy smoker? If you answered yes to either of these questions, you can reduce your risk of death from lung cancer by 20% when you receive a low-dose CT scan.
This groundbreaking discovery in cancer prevention and treatment came in 2011 when the New England Journal of Medicine published a study supporting the value of CT scans in detecting lung cancer more effectively than traditional X-rays. Since the initial 2011 publication, radiologists and other health professionals have been working tirelessly to educate patients about the benefits of CT scans, while also trying to ensure that the procedure is as affordable and convenient as possible. Since 2011, more support has emerged in support of low-dose CT scans for this screening:
- The Lung Cancer Alliance has published research from the Milliman actuarial firm, suggesting early-stage lung cancer diagnosis could save over 70,000 lives a year.
- In December of 2013, The US Preventative Services Task Force (USPTF), a US medical watchdog organization, endorsed annual screening for lung cancer using low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) scanning in adults aged 55-80 with a history of smoking certain amounts of cigarettes over specified time periods.
- As of 2015, the Affordable Care Act began requiring private insurance companies participating in health insurance exchanges to begin covering this critical exam.
- Also in 2015, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services finalized plans to cover the costs for LDCT in Medicare patients aged 55-77.
All these developments should simply highlight the life-saving value of this lung cancer screening.
And that’s where Doctors Imaging comes in. We don’t operate like a hospital or traditional imaging center. For us, the patient always comes first. So we are offering lung cancer CT scans for as low as $99 — a price you won’t find anywhere else in the Greater New Orleans area. In many cases, our CT scans are half the cost of a standard X-ray at the hospital.
Patients may be interested to know that the test takes about 10 minutes, and does not require needles or medicine.
When you’re ready, you can schedule an appointment online or just call 504-883-8111 to speak with a live representative. But don’t wait too long. Imaging services like low-dose CT scans can save your life if we catch lung cancer early enough.