NWA, Community-Based Lung Cancer Screening Program Is Blazing the Trail

The Center for Chest Care And The Lung Cancer Screening Program Are First Of Its Kind

Joanna Thompson, director of the Center for Chest Care and the Northwest Arkansas Lung Cancer Screening Program, has been selected to a five-person committee which will plan the national meeting for the Lung Cancer Alliance.

The Lung Cancer Alliance is the only national non-profit organization dedicated solely to providing support and advocacy for people living with or at risk for the disease, according to its website.

The Northwest Arkansas Lung Cancer Screening Program is the only program of its kind that is certified by the Lung Cancer Alliance in Arkansas and the only non-hospital program certified nationwide.

The Center for Chest Care is comprised of Highlands Oncology Group (Highlands), MANA, Cardiovascular Surgical Associates of NWA and Hope Cancer Resources.

The Center For Chest Care has met weekly for more than 12 years for the purpose of providing the best treatment plan for lung cancer patients. The Center for Chest Care provides multidisciplinary care for patients with known or suspected cancer of the lung and chest. The specialists work together on each case in order to provide collaborative treatment plans.

Lung cancer causes more deaths than the next three most common cancers combined, which includes colon, breast and pancreatic cancer, according to the American Lung Association (ALA).

The American Society of Clinical Oncology guidelines now suggest annual screenings with low-dose computed tomography for smokers and former smokers at high risk for developing lung cancer, according to Lungcancer.org, a service of CancerCare, a non-profit organization providing free, professional support to anyone coping with lung cancer.

Recent studies have found that lung cancer screening with low-radiation dose CT scans significantly lowers the risk of lung cancer-related death by 20 percent because of early discovery.

As the leading cancer treatment and research facility in Northwest Arkansas, Highlands is dedicated to the advancement of cancer treatment and to providing patients with the best possible care and results.

To learn more about the Center for Chest Care, please visit: www.screenforlungcancer.com

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Highlands Oncology Group is a state-of-the-art facility, with a world-class team of specialists, that is committed to providing premier cancer treatment and to enhancing the quality of life of patients and their loved ones. Highlands Oncology group provides this in a friendly, comfortable environment conveniently located in Northwest Arkansas. Highlands offers the latest technology of diagnostic imaging and radiation therapies, on-site labs, a pharmacy and an infusion center. They also offer access to clinical trials, multidisciplinary clinics and support groups. Highlands Oncology Group is helping patients win the battle against cancer every day.

Source: The Artist Evolution