Far too many lung cancer patients are diagnosed when their diseases are in later stages and more difficult to treat. The James Lung Cancer Screening Clinic is working hard to change this dynamic and save lives by screening smokers at high risk of lung cancer. “Lung cancer is the deadliest cancer in men and in women, and it all boils down to how it is detected and when it is diagnosed,” says Michael Wert, MD, a pulmonary critical care physician and the director of The James Lung Cancer Screening Clinic. Wert refers to lung cancer as a “silent” disease because too many people have no symptoms at all until their diseases are in later stages and have spread to other part of the body. The American Cancer Society estimates that there will be about 230,000 new lung cancer diagnoses in the United States this year and about 136,000 deaths. “Smoking is the number one factor,” Wert says. “Studies have shown smoking increases the lung cancer risk by 30-fold.” This makes the screening of smokers vital. Wert provides more information about lung cancer and the importance of screening on our Cancer-Free World Podcast. Listen via the video player above or on Soundcloud. Detecting problems When a nodule or mass is detected at The James Lung Cancer Screening Clinic, Wert and his team immediately schedule a patient for a follow-up and more detailed scan. “We get people into our clinic in a matter of a day or two,” he says. The concept of lung cancer screening is still fairly new, and The James clinic is a national leader. The concept is already paying dividends for patients. “Because of our screening [of smokers], the majority of lung cancers I see are in the very early stages,” Wert says Contact information If you or anyone you know fits the age and smoking parameters listed above, please talk to your primary care physician about a referral. You can call The James Lung Cancer Screening Clinic directly and talk to a screening coordinator at 614-293-5066 or 800-293-5066.