Early Detection Saves Lives: Why Lung Cancer Screening Matters

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States—but it doesn’t have to be. With MetroHealth’s low-dose CT lung cancer screening program, early detection is now faster, easier, and more accessible than ever. This simple scan takes less than 10 minutes and could be the key to saving your life. 

Why Screening Is Critical

Most lung cancers are diagnosed after symptoms appear—often when the disease has already spread. But with a low-dose CT scan, doctors can detect small nodules and other early signs of cancer long before symptoms arise. When caught early, lung cancer survival rates can soar to 60% or higher. 

In 2020, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force expanded eligibility for lung cancer screening, making it available to more people. Yet many still don’t know they qualify. 

Who Should Get Screened

You may be eligible if you: 

• Are between 50 and 77 years old 
• Smoked a pack a day for 20 years 
• Currently smoke or quit within the past 15 years 

Before your scan, a provider will review your smoking history and discuss the risks and benefits of screening. If you still smoke, MetroHealth offers resources to help you quit—because quitting remains the single most powerful way to reduce your cancer risk. 

What to Expect

The screening is quick and painless. If your scan is clear, it becomes your baseline for future annual screenings. If abnormalities are found, MetroHealth’s Lung Nodule Team will fast-track your next steps, including follow-up tests and consultations. More than 90% of nodules are benign, but if cancer is detected, you’ll be connected immediately with MetroHealth’s expert Oncology Team for cutting-edge care. 

A Life Changing Procedure

In March of 2023, Dr. Arvind Suguness successfully performed MetroHealth’s first endobronchial valve procedure, bringing the potentially life-changing treatment for emphysema to a population at highest risk for the debilitating disease. Donald Bass was the first patient to receive the one-way endobronchial valve, called the Zephyr valve.