Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Lake Pointe

Saving Lives from Lung Cancer

The latest tool for real-life superheroes is the low-dose CT scan (LDCT), used by radiologists. Better at detecting lung cancer in high-risk populations, the LDCT is quickly replacing X-rays as the preferred way to peer into the body. With a higher reduction in mortality when using LDCTs compared to X-rays, it’s no wonder why. This new technology is even better at saving lives than the standard mammogram.

“For a mammogram, studies show we have to scan between 400-600 mammograms to save one life. With a low-dose CT lung scan, we scan about 300 before we have one saved life,” said Roshon Amin, MD, a radiologist on the medical staff at Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Lake Pointe.

We spoke to Dr. Amin about the new life-saving LDCT scan.

The scan is available across the Baylor Scott & White system. With this effective new tool, doctors
are equipped with medical advancements to help diagnose patients. 

Impressive Results

The LDCT is quick, painless, and non-invasive. Not only that, but impressive results from studies show that smokers at high risk of lung cancer stand to benefit most from LDCT. Why? Because the scan helps catch lung cancers in the earliest and most treatable stages, before any symptoms emerge. Considering that lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer deaths in the world, that’s great news.

“Detecting it early, you have a greater than 60% chance of survival at five years,” said Dr. Amin.

The whole scan takes about 10 minutes from the time the patient walks in the room until the time they’re out. Often, the patient does not need to see the physician on the actual day of the scan, so they are in and out in the time it takes to eat a quick lunch.

For a yearly screening that is non-invasive, faster than a mammogram, and available to all sexes, the LDCT is proving to be worth the time.

One of the phenomenal characteristics of the LDCT scan is how it will not only help save lives from lung cancer but will sometimes catch other cancers, too.

Because of the area being scanned, doctors may see a mass in the breast, thyroid, or kidney while they’re looking at the lungs. These results create a significant reduction in mortality from cancer in those areas for people who have the scan done.

Ideal candidates for the scan, according to the American Cancer Society, include “anyone 50 to 80 years old and in fairly good health, who currently smoke or have quit in the past 15 years, and have at least a 20-pack-a-year smoking history.” Luckily, the scan is covered by Medicare and often by insurance for those groups described as ideal candidates. Still, patients should talk to their doctors and check with their insurance providers to determine out-of-pocket costs.

Quality Doctors

With their advanced training and qualifications, doctors on the medical staff at Baylor Scott & White – Lake Pointe can both order an LDCT scan and perform the lung biopsy, or any other procedure necessary.

Patients can expect quality care across the board, and those who have plans to undergo any procedures related to radiology can expect a doctor on hand to answer all their questions every step of the way, including the time they spend in the pre-operative room on the day of. Doctors on the medical staff at Baylor Scott & White – Lake Pointe are happy to use their expertise to put patients at ease. Afterwards, their families get one-on-one time with a doctor who will update them on how the surgery went.

Three to five days later, results arrive from the pathologists, and the patient is discharged with invaluable knowledge of their health.

For radiologists on the medical staff at Baylor Scott & White – Lake Pointe, a well-rounded view of overall care and patient needs means they understand the patient experience every step of the way. If a patient has cancer, dedicated and caring doctors can install a chemotherapy port, but will share the joy later, when the patient is doing well again and they can remove it.

Patients are encouraged to schedule a visit with any Baylor Scott & White Health location listed below for quality treatment in cancer prevention, care, and more.

*Physicians provide clinical services as members of the medical staff at one of BSWH’s subsidiary, community or affiliated medical centers and do not provide clinical services as employees or agents of those medical centers or BSWH.