IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR HEAVY SMOKERS AND FORMER SMOKERS

October 29, 2018Cancer Screening1

Catch the drift!

by William F. Muhr, Jr., M.D., D.A.B.R. CEO, South Jersey Radiology

YOU CAN CHANGE YOUR COURSE!

There is now more optimism and hope for heavy smokers and former smokers over the age of 55! Lung cancer, when diagnosed at its earliest stage, can be cured. An annual ultra-low dose, chest CT screening is the only tool ever to make an impact on lung cancer mortality.

Today we all know the health hazards of smoking; however, there is a segment of the population that was unaware of the dangers of smoking when they began the habit. Whether you did or didn’t is immaterial, we want to help you today.

There are over 7000 chemicals found in cigarette smoke that not only harm your lungs, but the latest research indicates second-hand smoke may hurt those you love. Read more: http://njquitline.org/pdfs/NJ_7000Chemicals(2).pdf

So how can I change my course?

You can get screened annually with an ultra low dose CT scan here at SJRA. Why? It bears repeating: lung cancer, when diagnosed at its earliest stage, can be cured.  We look for early cancers and potentially pre-cancerous nodules which we can follow to distinguish whether they are benign or early cancers.

Should I get screened for lung cancer?

The American College of Radiology recommends the following: if you are a heavy smoker, were a heavy smoker, are between the ages of 55 and 80, smoked at least one pack of cigarettes a day for 30 years you should get screened.

Review this infographic: https://www.acr.org/-/media/ACR/Files/Lung-Cancer-Screening-Resources/Shared-Decision-Making-Infographic.pdf?la=en

How often?

Annual screenings are recommended for early detection. Early detection is still your best protection.

What can an annual lung screening do for me?

Research shows that annual screening with low-dose CT scans can reduce the risk of death from lung cancer for people in the high risk categories (noted above). These scans have about five times less radiation than conventional CT scans.

Unfortunately, lung cancer is often marginalized and not considered a crisis, but 158,000 people a year die from lung cancer, compared to 64,000 opiate deaths). Here at South Jersey Radiology, we want to help diminish lung cancer fatalities because we know we can and because we care.

Word of Caution

I would be remiss if I didn’t state that lung cancer screening is not a substitute for quitting smoking. Quitting, we know, can be very difficult.  I am providing some FREE resources on quitting smoking:

Pick up the phone and call NJ Quitline (free to the public): NJ Quitline/ 1-866-NJSTOPS (866-657-8677). They have live telephone coaches to help you and it’s free.

More Information

New Jersey State Funded Cessation Services  (Free to the Public)

• Mom’s Quit Connection – 888-545-5191
  Free telephone or face to face cessation counseling for pregnant and parenting women and families.

 Privately Funded Cessation Services Available in NJ:
(Note: the following services may be offered at no, low or regular costs)     

• Atlantic Health
  Call 800-247-9580, or go to the website, click on Classes and Screening and select “Hypnosis for Smoking Cessation” from the drop-down menu.
• American Lung Association
  Quit services offered by the American Lung Association can be found by clicking http://www.lung.org/stop-smoking or by calling 800-586-4872.
• HiTOPS, Inc.
  iQuit! Program for 13 to 27 year olds through counseling and possible Nicotine Replacement Therapy. Ivy Pearlstein 609-683-5155 x212 ivy@hitops.org
• Shore Medical Center (Atlantic County)
  609-653-3440, quitcenter@shorememorial.org
  NOTE: This program services the community. Treatment by appointment.
• Somerset Medical Center (Somerset)
  Dr. Chris Kotsen, 908-685-2442, ckotsen@somerset-healthcare.com
• Tobacco Dependence Program, Rutgers, New Brunswick
  Cancer Institute of NJ, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, School of Public Health
  125 Paterson Street, Suite 2300, New Brunswick, NJ 08903 | 732-235-8222 stopsmoking@rutgers.edu
  Contact Michael Steinberg, MD, 732 235-8222 or 
Donna Richardson, LCSW, LCADC, 732 235-8223

South Jersey Radiology remains the first in the region to provide 3D Mammography and is the ONLY diagnostic imaging firm in the area to receive the American College of Radiology’s Diagnostic Imaging Center of Excellence Award and the Breast Imaging Centers of Excellence. That means we have over 40 radiologists on our team who are highly specialized in different areas of the body. In addition, we have 12 locations to serve you; we are open seven days a week with early morning hours and late evening hours. #insistonSJRA