According to the American Cancer Society, lung cancer is the number one cause of cancer deaths worldwide, mainly because it is often diagnosed at an advanced stage.
The most common symptoms are shortness of breath, coughing up blood, a cough that won't go away and chest pain. Because November Lung Cancer Awareness Month, Baptist Health in Paducah is offering help to people at the greatest risk.
The screening is like an MRI and it takes about 30 minutes. Medicare and most insurance will cover the cost of the low-dose CT lung screening for anyone between the ages of 55 and 77 under the following circumstances:
-You have smoked one pack a day for 30 years
-2 packs a day for 15 years
-3 packs a day for 10 years
-You have actively smoked in the last 15 years
If you meet the lung screening criteria, you can ask your doctor or Baptist health to set up an appointment in the lung clinic.