The Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute’s main campus in Detroit, along with Karmanos’ Lawrence and Idell Weisberg Cancer Treatment Center in Farmington Hills, have been designated a Screening Center of Excellence by the Lung Cancer Alliance (LCA). This designation highlights Karmanos Cancer Institute’s ongoing commitment to responsible Lung Cancer Screening. These two centers are among eight screening centers currently holding this designation in Michigan, and make up the more than 370 centers LCA identified across the country.
Low dose CT screening for lung cancer carried out safely, efficiently and equitably saves tens of thousands of lives a year.
“We are proud and honored to be working with the Karmanos Cancer Institute as a Lung Cancer Alliance Screening Center of Excellence. Their commitment to practice responsible lung cancer screening will lead to advancements in research and many lives saved. They are an example to follow,” says LCA President and CEO Laurie Fenton Ambrose.
Designated Screening Centers of Excellence are committed to provide clear information based on current evidence on who is a candidate for lung cancer screening, and to comply with comprehensive standards based on best practices developed by professional bodies such as the American College of Radiology (ACR), the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) and the International Early Lung Cancer Action Program (I-ELCAP) for controlling screening quality, radiation dose and diagnostic procedures within an experienced, multi-disciplinary clinical setting.
Karmanos Cancer Institute launched its Lung Cancer Screening Program in 2013 and has continued to provide patients with low dose CT screening for lung cancer ever since. Hundreds of patients have participated in the Lung Cancer Screening Program at Karmanos in Detroit and Farmington Hills. Over the past year, cancer was detected in three people, two of whom were in the early stages and one was late stage. The majority of the people screened who continue to meet the surveillance criteria work with the thoracic team at Karmanos to receive the appropriate annual follow-up screening.
“Karmanos Cancer Institute is committed to providing its patients with the highest quality care and the tools necessary to prevent cancer or detect it early when it’s most treatable,” said Justin Klamerus, M.D., MMM, interim president, Karmanos Cancer Hospital.
“Low dose CT screening has shown to be the only proven method to detect lung cancer at an early and treatable stage. Our experienced team of cancer experts assess each scan to define who needs further work-up. Should an abnormality or lung cancer be detected, Karmanos’ physicians work to find the best possible outcome for each patient.
“We are truly honored to have both of these Karmanos locations named a LCA Screening Center of Excellence and to be part of this elite group, setting an example for responsible screening practices across the country.”
For more information on Karmanos’ Lung Cancer Screening Program or other services, call 1-800-KARMANOS (1-800-527-6266).