Lung Cancer Screening Santa Fe
Lung cancer screening is a tool for early detection, clearing patients of any threat of the disease.
No symptoms or family medical history are needed to be screened. But because doctors know early detection offers the best prognosis, we apply low-dose computed tomography (low-dose CT scan or LDCT).
The body is scanned employing low-level radiation to pinpoint lung cancer with high-quality images.
At X-Ray Associates of New Mexico, we understand you need answers, so we offer same-day services. It’s a vital part of our commitment to caring.
Lung cancer screening Santa Fe
XRANM offers leading-edge lung cancer screening in Santa Fe. For 65 years, we’ve been offering New Mexico patients and doctors patient-centered diagnostics at our 6 facilities throughout the state.
Over the past 20 years, we’ve introduced diagnostics which haven’t previously been available in New Mexico. We’re raised the bar, ensuring that patients in this state get compassionate care and early detection of diseases like lung cancer.
Who should be screened?
The US Preventative Services Task Force stipulates that people meeting the following criteria should get a yearly lung cancer screening:
- Those who have smoked heavily or who are heavy smokers*
- Those who smoke now or who have stopped smoking in the past 15 years
- Those between the ages of 55 and 80
*Smoking at least 1 pack of 20 cigarettes per day for 30 years or more is deemed “heavy smoking”. The same definition applies to those who have smoked 2 packs of 20 cigarettes for 15 years or more.
Risks attached to screening
Prior to booking a lung cancer screening in Santa Fe, patients should now that there are 3 risks associated with this diagnostic:
- It’s sometimes the case that the test will show a “false positive” (detecting lung cancer when the patient doesn’t have the disease). This can lead to more testing and even surgery which is not necessary.
- Testing will sometimes detect cancers which don’t have any health consequences for the patient. This is known as “overdiagnosis”, as treatment will go ahead when it’s not necessary.
- Serial exposure to LDCT means serial exposure to radiation, with the possible result that cancer may be caused by the test itself.
Due to these risks, lung cancer screening in Santa Fe is available to patients experiencing no symptoms but only those who are in the high-risk groups enumerated above.
But your best protection against lung cancer is to stop smoking cigarettes now. Screening is not a substitute for smoking cessation.
Is there an age cut off for screening?
The Preventative Services Task Force recommends that patients 81 or over, or who have not smoked for more than 15 years, as well as those with health conditions which don’t permit surgery if cancer is detected, should not be screened.
XRANM offers a comprehensive range of leading-edge radiology diagnostics, including lung cancer screening in Santa Fe. Leaders in the sector, we’ve raised the bar for other radiology providers in New Mexico, bringing you up-to-the-minute technologies.
Contact us to book a screening.