Lung Cancer Screening CT Program Make an Appointment Refer a Patient Ask a Question Make an Appointment Refer a Patient Ask a Question Can Lung Cancer Be Prevented? The best thing you can do to prevent lung cancer is to quit smoking. Call the National Jewish Health QuitLine at 1.800.QUIT.NOW to get help to quit. Lung cancer can also be prevented by avoiding other environmental exposures, such as secondhand smoke, radon gas, and asbestos. Lung cancer screening is the best way to detect lung cancer early so it can be treated. We are a supporter of Image Gently through the Alliance for radiation Safety. What is a Lung Cancer CT Screening Program? Screening looks for a disease before a person has symptoms. Screening is recommended if a person is at high risk for disease, but has not developed symptoms of the disease. The Lung Cancer Screening Program at National Jewish Health focuses on early detection of lung cancer. Because a screening CT identifies suspicious lesions in high-risk individuals before there are any symptoms, lung cancer can be detected earlier when it is more easily treated. Lung cancer screening at National Jewish Health includes: an evaluation to see if you fall into a high-risk category and will benefit from screening, smoking cessation counseling if you are currently smoking, and a chest CT scan. People at high risk to develop lung cancer are defined by their age and smoking history. The results of a large study in the US, the National Lung Screening Trial (NLST), showed screening high-risk individuals with yearly low-dose CT scans can detect lung cancer early and significantly improve lung cancer survival. The ability to find lung cancer early, in high-risk patients, by CT scanning has been proven in a large study performed in Europe, the NELSON study. You can read a paper describing the study on the Radiology website. National Jewish Health is recognized as a Screening Center of Excellence by the Lung Cancer Alliance and a Designated Lung Cancer Screening Center by the American College of Radiology. Our lung cancer screening program also has been certified by the State of Colorado as a Healing Arts Screening Program. GO2 Foundation for Lung Cancer American College of Radiology Designated Lung Cancer Screening Center Who should consider participating in the Lung Cancer CT Screening Program? You fall into the category of high risk for developing lung cancer, and experts recommend lung cancer screening, if: You are 50 to 80 years old and You are a current or former smoker, with at least 20 pack-years of smoking, Pack-years are determined by the number of cigarette packs smoked per day multiplied by the number of years you smoked. Or you are a former smoker, who quit within the past 15 years. Know your lung cancer risk Take a Quiz When the CT scan finds a lung nodule, the nodule needs to be examined and watched closely, because it may or may not be a cancer, or could become cancerous in the future and need to be treated. The Lung Cancer Screening Program at National Jewish Health helps patients at risk for lung cancer monitor their screening results along with their primary care doctor, and start treatment at the earliest possible time. Many nationally respected organizations recommend lung cancer screening CT scans for high-risk individuals. American Cancer Society American College of Chest Physicians American Society of Clinical Oncology National Comprehensive Cancer Network American Thoracic Society American Lung Association American Association of Thoracic Surgery United States Preventive Services Task Force American Medical Association Doctors Shawn D. Teague, MD, FNASCI, FACR + × Shawn D. Teague, MD, FNASCI, FACR Shawn D. Teague, MD, is a radiologist at National Jewish Health. Dr. Teague is in the Department of Radiology. Associate Professor Department of Radiology View Full Profile David A. Lynch, MB + × David A. Lynch, MB David A. Lynch, MB, is a radiologist at National Jewish Health. Dr. Lynch is in the Department of Radiology. Professor Department of Radiology View Full Profile Make an Appointment Debra S. Dyer, MD, FACR + × Debra S. Dyer, MD, FACR Debra S. Dyer, MD, is a radiologist at National Jewish Health. Dr. Dyer serves as Chair of the Department of Radiology. Professor Chair, Department of Radiology View Full Profile Make an Appointment Elizabeth Klopper, MPH, MMSc, PA-C + × Elizabeth Klopper, MPH, MMSc, PA-C Elizabeth Klopper, MPH, is a physician assistant at National Jewish Health. Ms. Klopper is in the Division of Specialty Services. Physician Assistant Thoracic Surgery Clinic Division of Specialty Services View Full Profile Make an Appointment Tilman L. Koelsch, MD + × Tilman L. Koelsch, MD Tilman L. Koelsch, MD, is a radiologist at National Jewish Health. Dr. Koelsch is in the Department of Radiology. Associate Professor Department of Radiology View Full Profile Katherine Rosen, RN, MSN, ANP-C + × Katherine Rosen, RN, MSN, ANP-C Katherine Rosen, RN, is a nurse practitioner at National Jewish Health. Ms. Rosen is in the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine. Nurse Practitioner Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care & Sleep Medicine Department of Medicine View Full Profile Make an Appointment Jeffrey Kern, MD + × Jeffrey Kern, MD Jeffrey Kern, MD, is a board certified pulmonologist and specialist in lung cancer at National Jewish Health in Denver, CO. Dr. Kern serves as Chief of the Division of Oncology, Cancer Center. Chief, Division of Oncology, Cancer Center Director, Lung Cancer Center Vice Chair, Finance Professor Department of Medicine View Full Profile Make an Appointment James H. Finigan, MD + × James H. Finigan, MD James H. Finigan, MD, is a pulmonologist at National Jewish Health. Dr. Finigan serves as Director of The Respiratory Centers of Excellence, Medical Director of the Lung Cancer Screening Program and Respiratory Institute Director for the Office of Research Innovation. Director, The Respiratory Centers of Excellence Medical Director, Lung Cancer Screening Program Professor Respiratory Institute Director for the Office of Research Innovation Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care & Sleep Medicine Division of Oncology, Cancer Center Department of Medicine View Full Profile Make an Appointment John D. Mitchell, MD + × John D. Mitchell, MD John D. Mitchell, MD, is a surgeon at National Jewish Health. Dr. Mitchell is in the Division of Specialty Services. Thoracic Surgeon Professor Thoracic Surgery Clinic View Full Profile Make an Appointment Valerie A E Hale, MD + × Valerie A E Hale, MD Valerie A E Hale, MD, is a radiologist at National Jewish Health. Dr. Hale is in the Department of Radiology. Associate Professor Department of Radiology View Full Profile View all (10) doctors specializing in Lung Cancer Screening CT Program Find a Doctor Clinical Trials Current & Former Smokers Needed for Lung Research Study Our researchers are studying the lungs of current and former smokers to understand how to improve the diagnosis and treatment of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), a disease that is common among smokers. You do not need to have COPD to participate in this study. Learn More View More Clinical Trials Can Pembrolizumab (MK3475) with SBRT Treatment Stop or Slow Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer? Deployment-Related Lung Disease Study: Healthy Volunteers Needed Skin Reactions to Cancer Immunotherapy Reasons to Choose National Jewish Health The leading respiratory hospital in the nation and the only one devoted fully to the treatment of respiratory and related illnesses Ranked #1 or #2 in Pulmonology by U.S. News & World Report for 26 consecutive years Ranked in the top 5% of hospitals in the nation by HCAHPS Physicians consistently recognized among the best in the nation by multiple services, including Best Doctors in America and Castle Connolly Among the top 6% of organizations funded for research by the NIH, providing patients access to hundreds of active clinical trials 124-year history of focus on care, research and education serving patients from around the world with lung, heart, immune and related disorders Make an Appointment
Reasons to Choose National Jewish Health The leading respiratory hospital in the nation and the only one devoted fully to the treatment of respiratory and related illnesses Ranked #1 or #2 in Pulmonology by U.S. News & World Report for 26 consecutive years Ranked in the top 5% of hospitals in the nation by HCAHPS Physicians consistently recognized among the best in the nation by multiple services, including Best Doctors in America and Castle Connolly Among the top 6% of organizations funded for research by the NIH, providing patients access to hundreds of active clinical trials 124-year history of focus on care, research and education serving patients from around the world with lung, heart, immune and related disorders Make an Appointment