KENTON– OhioHealth Hardin Memorial Hospital will begin offering lung cancer screenings in November on the first Saturday of each month through December 2025. Lung cancer remains a leading cause of cancer death in both men and women. The best chance of a cure is early detection.

“It has now been well over ten years since the landmark National Lung Screening Trial demonstrated that a series of low-dose CT scans could significantly reduce the number of deaths caused by lung cancer,” said Hiten Shah, MD, who specializes in pulmonary disease at OhioHealth Hardin Memorial Hospital. “Nevertheless, lung cancer remains the most lethal of all cancers. Lung cancer screening provides the best chance to find a cancer early and provide curative treatment, either with surgery or radiation therapy.”

One of the greatest barriers, however, is the stigma associated with having been a smoker, which can prevent individuals from pursuing this screening.

“At OhioHealth, we believe no patient should miss out on this lifesaving, simple test. Our pulmonologists are dedicated to patient education and advocacy, and we partner with patients throughout the process,” Dr. Shah said.

“Criteria for lung cancer screening eligibility typically include age (around 50-77 years depending on insurance or guidelines), duration of smoking (at least 20 pack-years) and timeframe of smoking,” said Joe Duffy, MD, a pulmonologist with OhioHealth.

Ongoing screening is recommended every 12 months after the initial screening scan.

To register for a screening, call OhioHealth Central Scheduling at (614) 566.1111 or by calling 419-675-8181. An order is needed from the patient’s physician, which is covered by most insurance.