American College of Radiology Designates Beebe Healthcare as a Lung Cancer Screening Center

Beebe Healthcare has been designated a Lung Cancer Screening Center by the American College of Radiology (ACR).

The designation recognizes Beebe’s lung cancer screening initiative as one that is committed to practicing safe and effective testing with low dose computed tomography (CT) imaging technology.

To help diagnose lung cancer in its early stages when it is most treatable, Beebe offers the low dose CT screening for people that are at a high risk of developing lung cancer. The screenings are performed by appointment, following a physician’s referral, at Beebe Healthcare locations in Lewes, Georgetown and Millville.

“We are proud that the American College of Radiology has recognized our program,” said Dan Mapes, MPA, RT(N), CRA, Director of Diagnostic Imaging at Beebe Healthcare. “We are committed to providing our community with safe and effective diagnostic services, and we know that this is an important screening for people that are at high risk for lung cancer because cancer treatment can be more effective when cancer is diagnosed in early stages.”

Results from the National Lung Screening Trial (NLST) showed that those who received low-dose CT scans had a 20 percent lower risk of dying from lung cancer than those who received standard chest X-rays. All of the people that participated in the trial were at high risk for lung cancer.

Eligibility for the low dose CT lung cancer screening is based on a person’s age, the amount of years a person has smoked, and how much they have smoked. To qualify, individuals must be between the ages of 55-77, a current smoker (smokes 30 pack years) or someone who quit in the last 15 years, has not had a chest CT scan in the past 12 months, and must not have any lung cancer-related symptoms.

These scans are offered at very low cost to make them affordable to as many people as possible with a charge of $99, which includes the interpretation of the images. Patients who are uninsured or underinsured with an income between 138 % and 250 % of the Federal Poverty Level will qualify for screenings through Delaware’s Screening for Life program at no charge to them.

For more information about the screening, contact Debbie Campbell, R.N., MSN, Beebe’s Cancer Screening Nurse Navigator at (302) 645-3169. Ms. Campbell works with patients to determine their eligibility, and navigates them through the screening process. She collaborates with Beebe’s multidisciplinary medical team that reviews the results, and follows up with ordering physicians to assure patients’ needs are met. Ms. Campbell also directs patients into smoking cessation programs.

Lung cancer accounts for about 27% of all cancer deaths and is by far the leading cause of cancer death among both men and women. Each year, more people die of lung cancer than of colon, breast, and prostate cancers combined.

The American Cancer Society’s estimates for lung cancer in the United States for 2015 are:

• About 221,200 new cases of lung cancer (115,610 in men and 105,590 in women)
• An estimated 158,040 deaths from lung cancer (86,380 in men and 71,660 among women).

Smoking is the No. 1 cause of lung cancer. Smoking cessation counseling is available to Sussex County residents by calling the Delaware Quitline at (866) 409-1858.

Beebe Healthcare’s Diagnostic Imaging Department is American College of Radiology Accredited and has earned the designation as a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence. It has 113 team members at six locations performing services that include radiography, C-Arm, 2D and 3D mammography, ultrasound, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), nuclear medicine, positron emission tomography–computed tomography (PET/CT), and bone density.

The Department is supported by 10 Board Certified radiologists who read every image and are available around the clock. Annually, the team provides imaging for more than 149,000 procedures.

Beebe Healthcare is a not-for-profit community healthcare system with a charitable mission to encourage healthy living, prevent illness, and restore optimal health for the people residing, working, or visiting in the communities we serve. It offers services throughout Southern Delaware for residents and visitors, including a 210-licensed-bed hospital, a cancer center, and outpatient facilities providing walk-in care, lab, imaging, and physical rehabilitation services. For more information, please visit us online at Beebe Healthcare.