“If a patient has a suspicious finding on a screening, we move rapidly to make sure everything possible is done to get answers for them,” said Joseph Flynn, D.O., MPH, FACP, chief administrative officer, Norton Medical Group, and physician-in-chief, Norton Cancer Institute.

With two locations, Norton Cancer Institute Downtown and Norton Cancer Institute – Brownsboro, the center combines four multidisciplinary components to fight lung cancer: prevention, screening, diagnosis and treatment.

Lung cancer prevention: Smoking is the single biggest lung cancer risk factor, so smoking prevention and cessation are key. For anyone who smokes, the sooner you quit, the lower your lung cancer risk becomes. Norton Healthcare continues to expand smoking cessation options for patients and the public.

Lung cancer screening: Early diagnosis of lung cancer is critical. Low-dose CT scans, which can detect even the smallest tumors, are used to screen for lung cancer in individuals who meet established age and smoking history criteria. The center’s integrated screening component delivers two important benefits for patients:

• A navigator to assist patients through the screening process with education and resources
• Rapid access to a team of specialists if a suspicious finding is detected

Lung cancer diagnosis: The Comprehensive Lung Center works with patients and their primary care team to develop a treatment plan specifically for each patient’s physical and emotional needs. Fortunately, not all nodules identified by CT scan are cancerous, but when lung cancer is diagnosed, patients see a team of highly trained specialists who work together toward the common goal of a cure.

The Comprehensive Lung Center has specialists in cardiothoracic surgery, radiation, medical oncology, pulmonology and other disciplines, who are available to see the patient in one visit. This provides convenience for the patient and is important to the specialists who work together to develop a comprehensive care plan.

Lung cancer treatment: No cancer patient should have to wait to start the journey toward a cure. The Comprehensive Lung Center combines compassionate, whole-patient care with advanced technology and treatment. Customized treatment plans may include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation and targeted molecular therapies for certain subtypes of lung cancer.

Patients have access to numerous clinical trials through Norton Cancer Institute’s research program.

Therapeutic and supportive care services include yoga, massage, art and music therapy, nutritional counseling, and support groups — all available from day one.

In recent years, research has demonstrated up to a 20% decrease in lung cancer mortality for people at high risk who undergo lung cancer screening with low-dose CT scans.

“As with all forms of cancer, the earlier lung cancer is detected and the earlier treatment can begin, the better the chance for positive outcomes,” Dr. Flynn said. “Should you be diagnosed with cancer, we know you will have many questions and want answers right away. That’s why we offer same-day appointments with a cancer specialist.”

The post Program provides comprehensive lung cancer treatment appeared first on Norton Healthcare.

Studies have confirmed that cigarette smoking causes cancer. It is linked to about 80% to 90% of lung cancer deaths in the United States.

“We know smoking causes lung cancer,” said Basel M. Altoos, M.D., radiation oncologist with Norton Cancer Institute. “Cigarettes have around 7,000 chemicals in them, and many are known to cause cancer.” 

When you inhale tobacco smoke or other cancer-causing substances, lung cells become damaged. This can happen even if you are not a smoker yourself. Over time, the damaged lung cells can’t repair themselves, and it can lead to many health issues, including some types of cancer and heart disease.

But can you get lung cancer without smoking? Is that possible? The short answer is yes.

Risk factors for lung cancer without smoking

These factors are strongly linked to lung cancer in people who have never smoked.

“People might not understand their lung cancer risk if they have never smoked,” Dr. Altoos said.

Secondhand smoke: It causes around 7,300 deaths from lung cancer in nonsmokers every year. It’s also linked to other cancers, stroke, heart disease and asthma. Secondhand smoke also negatively affects other adults, children and pets. Secondhand smoke can come from being near someone smoking cigarettes, cigars, pipes or hookahs. Even short-term exposure to secondhand smoke can be bad for your health. 

You can be exposed to secondhand smoke at home, in the workplace or in public spaces such as bars. This can be tobacco smoke, or the vapors from electronic cigarettes or other smoke sources. Many states have specific bans on smoking in certain places, such as government buildings and health care facilities. 

Radiation therapy: If you have had past radiation to the chest for another type of cancer, it can increase your risk of developing lung cancer.

Radon exposure: Radon is a naturally occurring gas. It comes from the breakdown of uranium in soil, rock and water. The gas becomes part of the air you breathe. Unsafe levels of radon can accumulate in any building, including homes. This can increase your chances of lung cancer. Radon gas exposure causes about 21,000 cases of lung cancer death in the United States every year. 

Exposure to asbestos and other carcinogens: Exposure to asbestos and other substances known to cause cancer — such as arsenic, chromium and nickel — can increase your risk of developing lung cancer, especially if you’re a smoker.

Air pollution: In a similar way, long-term exposure to water and air pollution can impact your chances of developing lung cancer.

Family history of lung cancer: If you have a parent, sibling or child with lung cancer, you may have an increased risk of the disease.

5 ways to reduce your risk of developing lung cancer if you don’t smoke

1. Limit smoking in your home. There is no safe level of secondhand smoke, and the best way to protect yourself is to keep smoke out of your environment. Invite smokers to go outside if they wish to smoke at your home or office. Do not allow smoking in your vehicle.  
2. When you go out, visit tobacco-free restaurants and other public spaces, and avoid those that allow smoking.
3. If your employer doesn’t offer a smoke-free environment, talk to them about the benefits of a smoke-free workplace.
4. Have your home tested for radon. This gas can get into your house through cracks in floors, walls or the foundation. Levels of radon can build up over time. 
5. Limit exposure to carcinogens (cancer-causing substances) such as arsenic, asbestos, nickel, chromium and lead.

Talk to your health care provider if you have a family history of lung cancer. This puts you at higher risk for developing the disease. You can’t change your genes, but you may be able to reduce your risk. You may need to have an annual lung cancer screening.

Signs of lung cancer often don’t develop until the cancer is advanced. See your doctor if you are coughing up blood, have a cough that won’t go away or other lung cancer symptoms.

If you smoke, you are at an increased risk of developing lung cancer.  Consider quitting smoking — for your own health and for the health of your family, friends and pets.

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Lung cancer symptoms don’t usually show until the disease has advanced. But if caught early, the chance of surviving five years improves from 11% to 55%, according to the American Lung Association.

A lung cancer screening using a CT scan is:

• Easy: The whole CT screening appointment can take less than 30 minutes.
• Painless: You lie on a table that moves in and out of the scanner, which is shaped like a big, roomy doughnut.
• Often inexpensive: Many insurance plans cover the scan without a copay if you are high risk or over age 55.
• Worth it: Early detection significantly increases the chance of beating cancer.

Causes and risk factors for lung cancer

Smoking is the best-known and longest-studied cause of lung cancer. It is also the cause of other kinds of cancer, such as breast cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, cigarette smoking causes 80% to 90% of lung cancer deaths in the United States. The more cigarettes you smoke, the higher your risk for developing lung cancer. Even if you aren’t a smoker, if you are frequently around smoking you are at higher risk for lung cancer from secondhand smoke. Adults who do not smoke but who are exposed to secondhand smoke have a 20% to 30% increased risk of developing lung cancer. Sometimes there is no known trigger for lung cancer.

Besides smoking and secondhand smoke, other causes of lung cancer include: 

• Radiation therapy: If you have had radiation to the chest for another type of cancer, it can increase your risk of developing lung cancer.
• Exposure to radon gas: Radon is a naturally occurring gas. It comes from the breakdown of uranium in soil, rock and water. The gas becomes part of the air you breathe. Unsafe levels of radon can accumulate in any building, including homes. 
• Exposure to asbestos and other carcinogens: Exposure to asbestos and other substances known to cause cancer — such as arsenic, chromium and nickel — can increase your risk of developing lung cancer, especially if you’re a smoker.
• Family history of lung cancer: If you have a parent, sibling or child with lung cancer, you may have an increased risk of the disease.

The American Cancer Society has a free lung cancer screening eligibility quiz.

Talk to your primary care provider about getting a low-dose CT lung cancer screening.

Benefits of low-dose CT screening for lung cancer

A review of lung cancer data in 2023 said LDCT screening resulted in a 20% reduction in lung cancer mortality compared with chest X-ray screening. LDCT screening found early-stage lung cancer cases more often than chest X-ray screening.

A low-dose lung CT scan is a type of X-ray that takes multiple pictures as you lie on a table that slides in and out of the machine. A computer combines the images into a complete picture of your lungs. Because it is “low dose,” it uses a lower amount of radiation than a traditional chest CT.

A low-dose CT scan is painless, takes just a few minutes and is able to detect even the smallest tumors. The whole appointment can take less than half an hour.

Paying for lung cancer screening

According to the American Lung Association, the initial low-dose CT scan can be covered without a copay if you are at high risk, between ages 50 and 80 and have private insurance, or are ages 50 to 70 and have Medicare. You may have a copay if you go to a facility that is not in your health plan’s network. When you make your appointment, confirm that the facility and the providers are in your health plan’s network to avoid extra costs.

Norton Cancer Institute is home to specialists offering some of the most advanced treatments and therapies. Patients who are screened and have a suspicious finding are paired with an oncology-certified thoracic services patient navigator. This is a nurse who can help ease stress and guide you through every phase of cancer care, from diagnosis through treatment and survivorship.

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At any of these stages, you likely have questions about your results, diagnosis and more.

Norton Cancer Institute lung screening patient navigator and nurse Connie Buckley, R.N., AE-C, is dedicated to coordinating your lung cancer screening, providing follow-up, answering your questions and scheduling any additional care you may need. Here are four common questions she receives from patients about lung cancer screenings.

Guidelines and risk factors for lung cancer screening

Lung cancer screening can’t prevent lung cancer, but it can detect the disease before symptoms appear. Often lung cancer patients don’t have symptoms until the cancer has advanced or even spread (metastasized).  Earlier detection means improved health outcomes.

RELATED: A low-dose CT scan could help you find lung cancer early

Norton Cancer Institute uses high-speed, low-dose CT scanning, which can detect even the tiniest lung nodule. The screening scan — which is painless and noninvasive and takes just a few minutes — is offered to individuals at high risk for developing lung cancer. Lung cancer screening is recommended for those who are at high risk due to cigarette smoking. You may be a candidate if you meet all the following criteria:

• Ages 50 to 80
• Are a current cigarette smoker or quit within the past 15 years
• Cigarette smoking history of 20 pack-years (Multiply typical packs per day by number of years. For example, two packs per day for 10 years is 20 pack-years.)
• Family history of lung cancer

Studies have shown that early diagnosis with screening tools like CT scans can reduce the risk of lung cancer death by up to 20%. If you are at higher risk for developing lung cancer, ask your doctor about an annual lung cancer screening.

What is the screening process?

You will begin the process by talking with your primary care provider to ensure you qualify for a  screening. Your primary care provider’s office then will order and schedule the lung cancer screening. After your screening, a board-certified radiologist will review your scan. If an abnormality is found, your physician may recommend you see one of the lung specialists with the Norton Cancer Institute Comprehensive Lung Center.

How long will it take to get my results?

Your physician or the lung screening navigator will give you the results of your scan, usually within five days. If you have an abnormal screening, you will be notified by phone, and immediate arrangements will be made for a doctor specializing in lung cancer treatment to meet with you. If you have not received your results after 10 days, please call your physician.

Lung cancer screening questions to ask your doctor

Being ready with questions to ask your oncologist (cancer specialist) can help you feel back in control after hearing the news of a cancer diagnosis.

Understanding your disease and how it’s treated is important, so don’t be shy about asking straightforward questions about your oncologist’s subspecialty, experience and access to clinical trials. Treating lung cancer takes time and many appointments — and you may not be able to drive yourself all the time — so understanding how convenient your oncologist can make your treatment is important.

To get started, here are some questions to ask your oncologist. Feel free to take notes when you speak with your health care provider, and if there is anything you don’t understand — stop the conversation and ask for an explanation.

If you are a smoker, the most effective way to reduce your lung cancer risk is to stop smoking. If you aren’t sure how to do that, talk to your doctor. You can ask:

• Can you suggest ways to help me quit smoking?
• What else can I do to lower my risk of lung cancer?

Other questions include:

• Am I at risk for lung cancer?
• Do you recommend that I get screened for lung cancer? Why or why not?
• Should I have an annual screening for lung cancer?
• What kind of screening will I have? How do I prepare?
• Does the screening have any risks or side effects?
• How long will it take to get the results?
• If results show that I may have cancer, will I need more tests to be sure?

Should I get a second opinion?

Yes. Your oncologist won’t be offended. The goal is to get you the best care available, and multiple viewpoints can only help.

Also ask if your oncology provider holds “tumor boards” or multidisciplinary consultations. These are built-in processes where every cancer patient’s case is reviewed, analyzed, debated and discussed by numerous specialists. Similar to a second opinion, the result is a treatment plan that benefits from collaboration among a team of physicians and other providers.

How easily can I get an appointment, and how far away will it be?

Cancer disrupts your life and those closest to you. Getting an appointment — even the same day if you’ve been newly diagnosed — and setting up a treatment routine at a location that’s convenient for you and others who are helping you can make it easier.

What stage is the cancer?

Cancer can be categorized by stages to describe the size and how far, if at all, it has spread.

• Stage 0 refers to cancer that hasn’t spread to nearby tissues and often is highly curable.
• Stage 1 cancer is typically a small cancer that may be affecting nearby tissues, but hasn’t reached lymph nodes or other parts of the body.
• Stage 2 cancer is larger or may have spread to a few nearby lymph nodes.
• Stage 3 cancers are larger tumors that have spread more extensively.
• Stage 4 refers to cancers that have spread to other parts of the body.

What kind of cancer do I have, exactly where is it located and how much experience do you have treating it?

Advancements in cancer treatment have spawned a number of subspecialties both in the types of cancer and the treatment approaches, including radiation and biopsy procedures.

Understanding what type of cancer you have, where it is in your body and your oncologist’s experience treating your type of cancer specifically is important.

Types of lung cancer include small cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer.

Has the cancer spread from where it started?

You may have heard the word “metastasize” before. This refers to cancer spreading from its initial location to other parts of the body. The first cancer is considered the “primary” cancer. Places affected by its spread are “secondary” cancers.

Should I think about taking part in a clinical trial? Do you offer any for my diagnosis?

Clinical trials give patients the opportunity to take part in experimental treatments. A cancer program with a history of conducting clinical trials is also a sign of deep experience with the newest Food and Drug Administration-approved treatment options.

What support services do you offer?

Cancer doesn’t just happen to you or one part of your body. If affects how you feel, your outlook and that of those close to you. It’s often referred to as a journey, and it’s a journey that requires support.

Some oncology providers devote nurses to helping patients find their way through a new world of complex insurance filings, new treatment options and simply arranging transportation to and from doctors’ appointments.

What are my treatment options?

Not all oncology providers have access to the same treatments. Whether your care plan includes surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy or other approaches to treating cancer, you should ask about your treatment options all along the treatment journey.

What’s the goal of my treatment?

Making sure you and your oncologist share the same goal for your treatment will make for a smoother course of action and a freer exchange of information about your care.

What would I do if I have an issue after hours?

Ask about extended hours and same-day appointments to get treatment for side effects of your cancer treatment.

Norton Cancer Institute Prompt Care Clinic locations downtown and in St. Matthews are open until 8 p.m. on weekdays to get treatment quickly without an emergency department visit.

Will my insurance cover the cost of the screening?

Annual follow-up lung low dose CT scans are covered by Medicare and private insurance companies for people who meet the following criteria: 

• Ages 55 to 77 
• Current smokers or former smokers who quit less than 15 years ago
• Have no symptoms of lung cancer 
• Have a 30 pack-year history of smoking 

Check with your insurance company if you have any questions about your benefit plan.

Related content: Program provides comprehensive lung cancer treatment  

Lung cancer research has come a long way in the last five decades. Lung cancer mortality has dropped, and people are living longer, healthier lives with advancements in screening tests and treatments, as well as behavioral and lifestyle changes. Norton Cancer Institute Comprehensive Lung Center will be with you every step of the way, from screening to treatment and beyond.

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Two years prior, Jackie was diagnosed with Stage 4 metastatic carcinoma, a lung cancer that had spread to her lymph nodes.

“I was never sick a day,” said Jackie, a 60-year-old retired emergency room nurse. “We only found the cancer while preparing to treat a hernia, and the CT showed pulmonary nodules.”

In February 2023, she had a clear lung scan, which hangs on her refrigerator.

“I gave copies of that scan image to my son, daughter and five grandkids,” she said proudly.

Jackie’s journey from diagnosis to remission was not a straight path, however.

Good advice and a second opinion

When a biopsy of a lymph node in Jackie’s neck confirmed her lung cancer diagnosis, Jackie’s primary care physician referred her to a well-respected facility in Louisville for treatment. There she received treatment for six months, after which scans showed the cancer had only progressed.

She was told that her next best option was a “one-time” clinical trial treatment requiring at least a one-month prep period and a stay in the hospital.

On her drive home from that appointment, she called a friend, who advised her to get a second opinion from the lung cancer team at Norton Cancer Institute.

“I called and saw Dr. Lye that week,” Jackie said. “He reviewed all of my files and confirmed that I had received the best first treatment, but there were other less drastic treatments we could try.”

Adam D. Lye, M.D., is Jackie’s medical oncologist with Norton Cancer Institute.

“Upon reviewing her tests, I recognized two specific biomarkers that are excellent targets for therapy,” Dr. Lye said. “I was confident that we could help slow Jackie’s cancer while avoiding treatments with debilitating side effects.”

Precision treatment

The type of treatment that inspired this confidence often is referred to as personalized medicine or precision medicine. At Norton Cancer Institute, it simply is a well-researched, leading-edge standard of care for qualifying cancers.

“Jackie is being treated with Enhertu, which specifically targets the HER2 protein, with direct delivery to those cells,” Dr. Lye said. “This drug, and those like it, treat cancers like a sniper with pinpoint delivery rather than a bomb that causes collateral damage.”

Precision medicine begins with an analysis of the cancer’s genetics — not the patient’s own genes — to find the most efficient target for treatment. While not all cancers have a treatable mutation, those that do offer oncologists a bullseye for precise therapy.

“Jackie’s cancer actually has a second mutation that we will treat if for some reason the current therapy stops working,” Dr. Lye said. “Her case is unique in that we have a built-in backup plan.”

Why get a second opinion?

Today Jackie is living each day to its fullest because she followed her friend’s advice and called for a second opinion, even though she liked her first doctor and the facility’s reputation.

“I always encourage patients to get second opinions,” Dr. Lye said. “They are especially important when a patient is told there is no treatment at all or no treatment left. If that is true, a second opinion can help the patient be more at peace by making sure nothing has been missed.”

A study published in the journal Cancer Medicine found that when patients seek an expert second opinion, even when the diagnosis is confirmed, a less intense treatment often is recommended.

“Patients need to trust and feel at ease with their oncologist,” Dr. Lye said. “If a patient doesn’t trust me, they need to find someone they do trust. They need to feel comfortable that they are receiving the right treatment from someone who has their best interest at heart.”

Dr. Lye has certainly earned Jackie’s confidence.

“I can’t explain how I feel about him,” she said. “I put my life in God’s hands, and He put it in Dr. Lye’s hands.”

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Smoking causes cancer, no matter how many years you’ve been smoking, and your risk for developing cancer can increase each time you light up a cigarette.

“Many smokers try to figure out how many years of smoking cause cancer, but the truth is, there is no such thing as a ‘safe’ amount of cigarettes,” said Julie M. Schmied, APRN, nurse practitioner with Norton Prevention & Wellness. “The safest choice is to avoid smoking altogether or to stop smoking as soon as possible.”

Not only can smoking cause cancer, but it also can weaken your body as far as being able to fight it. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, poisonous chemicals in cigarette smoke can weaken the body’s immune system and damage or change DNA, which can lead to the formation of a tumor that can grow out of control.

Lung cancer is the deadliest form of cancer in the United States. Although nonsmokers can develop lung cancer, the statistics speak for themselves: Nearly 9 out of 10 lung cancer deaths are caused by smoking cigarettes or exposure to secondhand smoke. Smokeless tobacco also causes cancer.

Smoking can cause more than lung cancer — it also can lead to cancer developing just about anywhere in the body, including the blood, colon, esophagus, kidney, mouth, throat, pancreas, liver, bladder, stomach, cervix and more.

Benefits of quitting smoking

Within minutes after smoking your final cigarette, your body starts to undergo positive changes that can last for years.

• Twenty minutes after quitting, your heart rate drops.
• Twelve hours after quitting, the carbon monoxide level in your blood drops to normal.
• Two weeks to three months after quitting, your heart attack risk begins to drop. Your lung function begins to improve.
• One to nine months after quitting, your coughing and shortness of breath decrease.
• One year after quitting, your added risk for coronary heart disease is half that of a smoker’s.
• Five to 15 years after quitting, your stroke risk is reduced to that of a nonsmoker’s.
• Ten years after quitting, your risk of death from lung cancer is about half that of a smoker’s. Your risks for cancers of the mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, kidney and pancreas decrease.
• Fifteen years after quitting, your risk for coronary heart disease is that of a nonsmoker’s.

Free classes to help you quit smoking

Smoking cessation classes and medication have helped millions of smokers around the nation kick the habit.

Norton Healthcare offers free classes to help you achieve a healthy, smoke-free lifestyle. Classes follow the American Lung Association Freedom From Smoking program, proven to be effective for millions of smokers. The classes are held online. To register for an upcoming class, call (502) 629-1234, option 4.

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Here’s a guide to tests that can detect cancer and who should get checked when.

Breast cancer

Mammogram — an X-ray of the breast — is often the most effective way of spotting breast cancer early when treatment can be more than 90% successful. Mammograms expose you to low-dose radiation, and for most people in the following age ranges, the benefits of regular mammograms outweigh the risks of radiation exposure.

READ MORE: What’s the right age to start getting Pap smear tests?

• Women age 50 to 74 and at average risk: Every two years, according to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF).
• Women age 45 to 54 and at average risk: Annually, according to the American Cancer Society.
• Those at high risk of breast cancer because of family history or their own medical history may start screening before age 40 in consultation with their health care provider.

Cervical cancer

Pap smears can detect precancerous cells that can develop into cancer without treatment. The HPV test looks for the human papillomavirus that can trigger the cells to develop into cancer

• Age 21 to 29: Pap smears should start at age 21. A normal test may allow you to wait three years for your next test.
• Age 30 to 65: Talk to your health care provider about what’s right for you. A normal Pap smear may allow you to wait three years before another. A normal HPV test may allow you to wait five years for the next one. If both tests conducted at the same time are normal, you may be able to wait five years to do it again.
• Over age 65: Your provider may advise that you don’t need screening anymore if you’ve had normal screenings for several years or if you’ve had your cervix removed as part of hysterectomy, for instance.

Colon cancer

Colon cancer typically starts with precancerous polyps in the colon or rectum. Once detected, the polyps can be removed before they turn into cancer. A colonoscopy is very thorough and allows the physician to remove any polyps or other suspicious tissue for testing. Stool tests collected at home can be almost as accurate as a colonoscopy, but don’t allow for immediate treatment.

• Age 45 to 75 and at average risk for colon cancer: People in this age group should get a colonoscopy every 10 years. Black adults across all age groups, including under age 50, have colon cancer more frequently and are more likely to die of colon cancer than white adults.
• Age 76 to 85: Talk with your health care provider about your overall health and prior screening history. Current evidence shows there is little benefit in screening everyone in this age group.

Lung cancer

Low-dose computed tomography (low-dose CT scan) is used to screen for lung cancer. The test is quick and painless, but carries risk from low-level radiation exposure.

• Age 50 to 80 with a 20 pack-year smoking history and a current smoker or quit within the past 15 years (A pack year is measured by multiplying the number of packs smoked each day by the number of years. One pack per day for 20 years would be 20 pack years and two packs per day for 20 years would be 40 pack years.)

Screening for ovarian, pancreatic, prostate, testicular and thyroid cancers has not been shown be effective at reducing death, according to the USPSTF.

The post Here’s how cancer is detected and a guide to catching up appeared first on Norton Healthcare.

“Things were different back then, and it’s just what you did,” she said.

She was what you would call a heavy smoker, smoking at least a pack a day for at least 30 years. She finally quit in 2007.

A retired nurse, Margaret credits a simple screening for detecting her lung cancer before it had gotten past the early stages. She now tells everyone she knows about this important test.

Margaret had three friends diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer within six months of each other. All had smoked, and none had any symptoms of lung cancer. One had a swollen lymph node in the neck. One was thought to have allergies that caused swelling in the face. The other’s was found by accident. They all died.

Shortly afterward, she saw an ad in the newspaper. The ad, coupled with the friends’ deaths, caused Margaret to ask her primary care provider if he could refer her to Norton Healthcare for a screening.

“I didn’t have any symptoms, but I knew I should check,” she said. “I go to the gym every day. I wasn’t short of breath, and I wasn’t coughing.”

Catching Lung Cancer Early

She had her first screening at Norton Healthcare, which was clear, and continued screenings for the next three years. Then two small nodules appeared. Three months later the nodules had changed, and Margaret had surgery in February 2019 with George J. Mikos, M.D., cardiothoracic surgeon with Norton Cardiothoracic Surgery. The nodules were cancerous.

Nationally, the American Lung Association reports that only 21.5% of lung cancers are caught at an early stage, which is when the cancer is most treatable.

A recent report from the American Cancer Society shows that from 2016 to 2017, cancer deaths declined 2.2%, with lung cancer deaths also declining. Kentucky also is seeing a drop in deaths attributed to lung cancer. Lung cancer screenings can help make these numbers decline even more.

“Because of the screening, my cancer was caught early,” Margaret said. “I didn’t have to have chemo or radiation, but I will keep going back for scans. So far the two I’ve had have been clean.

“The screening saved my life. If you’re a former smoker, you need to know about this.”

About Lung Cancer Screening

A computed tomography (CT) scan of the lung is painless, noninvasive and fast. The scans are available at Norton Cancer Institute’s Comprehensive Lung Center for individuals at high risk for developing lung cancer. You may be a candidate if you are age 55 to 74 and are a current smoker or have a 30-pack-year smoking history. This means you smoked one pack a day for 30 years, or two packs a day for 15 years, etc.

You also may qualify for a screening if you have a family history of lung cancer or have signs or symptoms of lung cancer. Talk to your physician to determine if you should have a screening.

Most insurance companies cover the cost of a lung cancer screening. Medicare Part B also generally covers the screenings for those who meet the criteria above. A physician referral is required.

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The radioactive gas seeps out of the soil as uranium decays and can become trapped in your home. It’s important to test for it and take steps to move it back to the outdoors.

Many parts of the Louisville area, including Southern Indiana, have a higher risk of exposure to radon. Jefferson, Bullitt and Nelson counties in Kentucky, and Clark, Harrison, Scott and Washington counties in Southern Indiana, are among areas with high potential for elevated indoor radon levels, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Nationwide, nearly 1 out of every 15 homes are estimated to have elevated radon levels.

“The health hazard does not come directly from radon itself, but from the radioactive particles that are emitted as radon decays,” said Jenny Frantz, R.N., lung cancer patient navigator with Norton Cancer Institute. “Those particles can be inhaled into the lungs and bombard the cells with cancer-causing radiation.”

Radon cannot be seen, smelled or tasted and is a risk no matter where you live. It’s extremely important to test for radon whether you own, rent or live in an apartment. Testing is simple and inexpensive, and kits typically are available at hardware stores.

“Having your home tested is the first step,” Jenny, the patient navigator, said. “If you are a smoker and have been exposed to high levels of radon, it is important that you quit smoking. The combination of cigarette smoking and radon exposure increases the risk of developing lung cancer.”

Read more: Lung cancer prevention and detection

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Completion is planned for February 2020, with two downtown campus locations getting a makeover.

Norton Cancer Institute – Downtown (676 S. Floyd St.)

• New clinics will serve patients with urgent care needs related to cancer, hepatitis C and sickle cell disease.
• Advanced radiation therapy services will continue to anchor the first floor.
• New multidisciplinary care space will be created for the Head, Neck and Skin Cancer Program and Comprehensive Lung Center.
• Current skin cancer resources will be expanded to include innovative new technology.
• A state-of-the-art oncology pharmacy and an expanded chemotherapy and infusion suite are being added to the third floor.

Norton Cancer Institute Women’s Cancer Center (234 E. Gray St.)

• The new women’s center on the first floor will include offices for gynecologic oncologist Lynn Parker, M.D. along with six large gynecologic oncology exam rooms.
• A new expressive art and music therapy suite will be located on the first floor.
• Offices for Norton Cancer Institute’s research program will occupy part of the second floor.
• A new central call and scheduling center, plus space for the financial services team, will be on floors five and six.
• Additional plans include a multidisciplinary breast health clinic led by medical oncologist Laila S. Agrawal, M.D.
• A designated pull-in valet area will facilitate quick service for those visiting for outpatient blood tests.

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