Lung cancer kills more Canadians than any other kind. In our region we are lucky to have a great program that offers screening and early detection for the high risk patients (people who currently or formerly smoked) using low-dose CT (LDCT). I wanted to share two pieces of info from this program
- After a multi-step process including a literature review, expert panel and modelling, the program is now extended to patients age 80+ (it used to be up to age 74).
- After a risk assessment is done by the program, some patients do not meet the threshold (which is risk ≥2%) for program enrollment and the LDCT. For these patients, communication should come back to the PCP with risk level. When should we re-refer these patients?
Here is a table that answers this re-referral question:
A few additional reminders for this program:
- Self-referral is possible, however, the program will send back a requisition to the PCP to sign so we know we are responsible to follow incidental findings, and I have found my patients have many incidental findings. Some guidance for follow up has been prepared here. Radiologists should include next steps for these findings based on this guidance within the radiology report you receive.
- Currently, SJHH is our only hub screening site. However, work is under way to offer LDCT lung screening scans at spoke sites including Niagara, Brantford and Burlington (with navigation from SJHH).