UAMS Cancer Institute offers free lung screenings this Saturday

The UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute will hold lung screenings on Saturday, Nov. 14, from 8 a.m. to noon. The event marks the fifth annual National Lung Screening Day and falls during Lung Cancer Awareness Month.

Screenings will take place on the third floor of the Cancer Institute at 449 Jack Stephens Drive in Little Rock. Patients can also receive screenings at UAMS Health in Bryant, located at 1901 Encore Way. An appointment is required for either location. Interested individuals should call 501-526-5777 to schedule a time.

Each low-dose CT screening takes about 15 minutes. Medicare covers the cost of these scans for adults between the ages of 50 and 78. Most commercial insurance plans also cover the procedure.

The institute recommends screening for adults ages 50 to 80 who currently smoke or have a history of smoking. Eligibility is based on a smoking history of at least 20 pack-years. This calculation equates to smoking one pack a day for 20 years or two packs a day for 10 years.

Michael Birrer, M.D., Ph.D., is the UAMS vice chancellor and director of the Cancer Institute. He stated that early detection provides patients with the best chance for successful treatment. Birrer noted that adding lung screening vans brings these life-saving procedures closer to home for communities across Arkansas.

Matthew Steliga, M.D., is the division chief of thoracic surgery at UAMS. He explained that lung cancer often causes no symptoms in its early stages. Steliga emphasized the importance of knowing one's risk and discussing screening with a provider. He said a low-dose CT scan can find lung cancer before symptoms develop.

The American Lung Association reports that lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer deaths in Arkansas. The state ranks 33 out of 51 in the nation for lung cancer screening rates. Tobacco use is the leading cause of lung cancer, and the smoking rate in Arkansas is higher than the national average. For questions about the Nov. 14 event, people can email JLBoyd@uams.edu.