Celebrating Lung Cancer Awareness Month with Free Screenings in November

KANKAKEE, IL – Riverside Medical Center is celebrating Lung Cancer Awareness Month by giving you peace of mind. If you or someone you love has a significant smoking history, Riverside Medical Center suggests you get screened for lung cancer—for free in November!

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) recommends a CT lung cancer screening for people 55 to 74 who have a smoking history of 30 "pack years" or former smokers who quit less than 15 years ago. A "pack year" is the number of packs smoked per day times the number of years a person has smoked. You may also be eligible for this scan if you're 50 years or older, have a smoking history of 20 "pack years" and have one of the following risk factors:

• Documents high exposure to radon
• Occupational exposure to silica, cadmium, asbestos, arsenic, beryllium, chromium, diesel fumes or nickel
• Personal history of lung cancer, head and neck cancer or lymphoma
• Family history of lung cancer
• Personal history of COPD or Pulmonary Fibrosis

The CT procedure is painless and quick; no drugs or injections are necessary. You will be asked to keep very still and hold your breath for the 20 seconds of the scan. The whole procedure takes only about fifteen minutes and in most cases, results are given to you at the time of the exam by the lung screening navigator.

A total of three scans are completed over a two year period. Each scan is $99, but if you schedule yours in November and meet screening eligibility guidelines, you will receive it free! The CT lung cancer screenings are available in Bourbonnais, Coal City and Watseka.

94.1 FM, WGFA