Lung Cancer Screening

Montefiore Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center has one of the country’s most established, longest-running lung cancer screening programs. Our experienced and well-regarded team is dedicated to helping people like you find signs of lung cancer as early as possible.

In the U.S., most cancer-related deaths are due to lung cancer. Preventing lung cancer, or finding and treating it in its earlier stages, is key to better health and survival rates. Montefiore Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center has a strong history of ensuring lung cancer screenings are available and accessible. Our cancer center brought the first lung cancer screening program of its kind to the Bronx.

Since then, we have developed programs and partnerships to bring lung cancer screening and education to even more people in our community. These include:

• Essen Education & Screening Partnership: A partnership with Essen Health Care designed to bring cancer screening events to the community.
• URBANA Lung Cancer Screening Outreach Program: Known as Project URBANA, this program, funded by a grant from the LUNGevity Foundation, brings education and screening navigation to people who may be at higher risk for lung cancer.

Though anyone can get lung cancer, people who smoke have a greater chance of developing the disease. The community we serve has one of the highest smoking rates in the state of New York.

Quitting smoking is the first and best step to take toward preventing lung cancer. But quitting smoking can be challenging. If you need help to quit smoking for good, our tobacco cessation program can help.

Other steps you can take to prevent lung cancer include:

• Reducing exposure to secondhand smoke
• Reducing exposure to environmental risk factors, such as exposure to radon or cancer-causing substances

Lung cancer screening can help to find cancer before it causes symptoms.

This test may be right for you if you meet all the following criteria:

• Are between the ages of 50 and 80
• Have a 20 pack-year smoking history (20 cigarettes per day)
• Currently smoke or quit smoking within the past 15 years

Some factors put you at a higher risk of developing lung cancer. These include:

• Cigarette smoking or tobacco use
• Family history of lung cancer
• Exposure to radon or cancer-causing substances like asbestos

If you are at higher risk for lung cancer, you may qualify for earlier or more frequent lung cancer screenings. Talk to your doctor about your personal risk for the disease.

The most effective lung cancer test is a low-dose CT scan. A low-dose CT scan is a type of imaging test that is painless and takes just minutes to complete. We offer this test as part of our high-risk lung cancer screening program.

Research has shown that getting this test yearly could lead to a 20% reduction in cancer death rates compared to a standard chest x-ray.