A Lifesaving Opportunity for Improvement
The Power of Cessation + Accessible Lung Cancer Screenings
Arkansas is often praised for its plentiful outdoor amenities, award-winning barbecue, incomparable Southern hospitality… Our list of attributes is long and growing daily. Unfortunately, there’s one area where we are consistently falling behind. And that’s educating and equipping our residents to be proactive about their health. Case in point: our lung cancer incidence and survival rates. The good news is we have the power and the tools to change this.
Arkansas currently has one of the highest lung cancer rates in the country. According to the American Lung Association, tobacco is the leading risk factor for the disease, responsible for 80-90% of all cases. While more Arkansas residents are choosing to quit, our smoking rate still nears 20%. If we want to reduce our lung cancer rates, we must promote smoking cessation and discourage the use of tobacco-containing products.
As a state, we should also urge those eligible to consider lung cancer screenings. Low-dose CT scans enable us to detect the disease at earlier stages when it’s more curable. A study published in BMC Health Service Research found that these scans can reduce the lung cancer death rate by up to 20%. Unfortunately, less than 5% of those eligible for low-dose CT scans are being screened.
At CARTI, we are committed to ensuring eligible patients have access to low-dose CT scans year-round. This includes current or former smokers ages 50-80 with a smoking history of at least 20 pack years who are in generally good health and have no history or signs or symptoms of the disease. We also host Saturday screening events in November for Lung Cancer Awareness Month. Both options are available by appointment by visiting screening.CARTI.com or calling 501-906-4454.
Arkansas has a lot to brag about, from incredible hiking trails to world-class cultural institutions. Our tobacco cessation and lung cancer screening rates aren’t yet on the list, but we’re making steady progress. With a continued focus on prevention and greater access to and use of low-dose CT scans, we can take pride in our efforts to help our residents live longer, healthier lives.
Donald Norwood, M.D., a board-certified diagnostic radiologist, is the medical director of imaging services for CARTI.