Ballad Health launches limited-time free lung cancer screenings

Ballad Health is offering free low-dose CT scans to individuals who meet criteria and have not had a lung cancer screening previously, helping expand access to potentially life-saving lung cancer screenings in the Appalachian Highlands where lung cancer is more common than others.

Available for a limited time, these screenings are offered to individuals who qualify for their first scan. Appointments must be scheduled between May 6 and June 30. The screening is quick, painless and noninvasive. The scan itself only takes a few minutes, does not require needles, sedation or recovery time and patients can return to their normal activities right away. With screening available at many Ballad Health locations across the region, eligible patients can complete this potentially life-saving test close to home with minimal disruption to their day.

“Many people in our region have spent their lives working hard, caring for their families and putting others first,” said Dr. Shari K. Rajoo, vice president and chief medical officer for population health at Ballad Health. “This screening is a simple way to take care of yourself so you can keep being there for the people who count on you.”

These screenings are part of a broader effort by Ballad Health to expand access to advanced cancer care across the region — from early detection to treatment — ensuring patients can receive high-quality, life-saving services close to home.

“Too many people who should be screened for lung cancer never are — and early detection can be the difference between life and death,” said Dr. Rajoo. “Since last November, more than 2,500 people have received their first screening ever through this effort. By removing cost as a barrier, we’re helping more people take a simple step that could save their life. Only about 18% of high-risk patients get screened for lung cancer nationally — dramatically reducing quality of life and survival rates.”  

Testing early is especially important in our area of Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia, where higher-than-average numbers of people who smoke lead to higher rates of lung cancer and cardiovascular disease. Early loss of life from these diseases is often preventable. There are two actions people can take today: stop smoking and get tested. In the Appalachian Highlands, lung cancer is often detected in later stages, making treatment more challenging.

"As a cardiothoracic surgeon, I see firsthand how much early detection matters for patients with lung cancer," said Dr. Robert Ferguson with Ballad Health CVA Heart Institute. "In our region, where tobacco exposure and lung cancer rates remain high, free and easily accessible, low-dose CT screening gives eligible patients a chance to find lung cancer before symptoms develop. When lung cancer is found early, many patients can be treated with minimally invasive surgery and return to their families and normal lives. When it is found later, treatment is often more complex and the chance for cure is much lower. This quick, painless screening test can make a life-changing difference."

Lung cancer facts:

• According to the American Lung Association, 43% of lung cancer patients are diagnosed in the late stages.
• Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths among both men and women in the United States.
• Smoking is a primary risk factor.
• The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends annual screening for those who are eligible.

To qualify for a free low-dose CT screening, patients must:

• Be between the ages of 50 and 80, in accordance with clinical guidelines
• Have no previous lung cancer diagnosis
• Have a smoking history of at least 20 pack-years (one pack-year equals smoking one pack per day for a year)
• Be a current smoker or have quit within the last 15 years
• Have not had any prior low-dose CT scans
• Have not had a chest CT scan within the last 12 months

A clinician order is required for the screening. Eligible individuals are advised to contact their physician’s office and ask for a low-dose CT imaging order or visit www.balladhealth.org/medical-services/screenings/low-dose-ct or call 833-822-5523 (1-833-8-BALLAD).