Methodist Health System | Methodist Richardson Medical Center | Shine | Summer 2015

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the jewelry business, had a lot of fun, and never considered
school again.”
He went from being a factory worker to opening his own
manufacturing business in 1982. In the last 48 years, he has
mastered almost every facet of the jewelry industry.
He also acquired the fear that lung cancer might be part of
his future.
“I was a smoker for many years and quit about 10 years ago
after a heart attack,” John says. “But for anybody who’s been in
my industry, especially as long as I’ve been in it, there are other
damaging factors, such as being around a lot of asbestos and
chemicals that are not healthy. And 30 years ago, they weren’t as
controlled as they are today.”
So when John was diagnosed with a stage III lung tumor in
spring 2014, he wasn’t surprised. His fear had become a reality,
and John reached what he calls the lowest point of his life.
From low to high
Both John’s primary care physician and pulmonologist referred him
to Sam Bibawi, MD, medical oncologist at Methodist Richardson
Cancer Center.
Methodist Richardson Medical Center • Summer 2015 11
It could save your life
LUNG CANCER SCREENING
SCHEDULE YOUR SCREENING
To learn more about low-cost low-dose lung screenings call - - or visit
To schedule a screening call - -
You know that mammograms can catch breast cancer and
colonoscopies can catch colorectal cancer. But did you know
that there is now a screening for lung cancer?
Methodist Richardson Medical Center now offers low-dose
computed tomography (CT) scans to detect lung cancer at its
earliest stages, when it’s easier and more cost-effective to treat.
The benefits of screening
“Lung cancer is the leading cause of death related to cancer in
the United States,” says Anthony Boyer, MD, pulmonologist
on the medical staff at Methodist Richardson Medical Center.
In fact, the American Lung Association reports a death rate
hovering around 50 percent, depending on race and gender.
Fortunately, the results of a study published in 2011 in The
New England Journal of Medicine give us hope. The National
Lung Screening Trial compared the effectiveness of chest X-rays
and low-dose chest CT scans in detecting lung cancer at an
early stage, when it was most treatable.
“Those screened using a low-dose chest CT scan
resulted in a 20 percent reduction in death from
lung cancer,” Dr. Boyer says. “Now the screening
is endorsed by the American College of Chest Physicians and the
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Plus, just this February, the
U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services decided to cover
annual lung screening in the appropriate patient population.”
Who can be screened
To be eligible for the low-dose CT lung screening, you must
be between ages 55 and 77 and have one of the following
smoking histories:
w Current smoker with a 30-pack-year smoking history (smoked
one pack a day for 30 years or two packs a day for 15 years)
w Former smoker (quit less than 15 years ago) and have a
30-pack-year history.
While most insurance companies do not cover the screening,
Methodist Richardson is happy to offer it at a reduced cost of
only $249 — a cost that Dr. Boyer says is worth it.
“I would encourage anyone who has smoked for a long period
of time to consider getting screened,” Dr. Boyer says. “Talk to
your primary care provider or pulmonologist before having the
scan so you can discuss the risks and benefits. This screening
could save your life.”