MCR Radiologist John Plemmons, MD, was recently interviewed for a feature spot on WAVY TV News 10 promoting lung cancer screening efforts. Lung cancer screening with a low-dose CT scan is recommended for people between the ages of 50 and 80 who have a history of heavy smoking. Specifically, people who have smoked the equivalent of one pack of cigarettes per day for at least 20 years are considered at high risk. Those who are still smoking or who have quit within the past 15 years are also candidates for the testing. Dr. Plemmons encourages everyone who meets the criteria to talk to their healthcare provider about getting screened. Traditionally, by the time lung cancer is symptomatic or it’s identified, 80% of the patients are going to have a disease beyond the small, localized area,” Plemmons said. “But we know that if we catch them earlier, the five-year survival rate is almost 60%.” Low-dose CT scans can detect lung cancer as early as Stage 1 or 2, which can make all the difference.