CARD's Lung Cancer Screening Program The Center for Asbestos Related Disease offers free Lung Cancer Screening (LCS) to our pa- tients who have been diagnosed with asbestos related disease. This is funded by our grant from the Agency for Toxic Substances Disease Registry (ATSDR), part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The screening involves a CT scan of the chest with a lower dose of radiation and is the accepted standard nationwide to screen for lung cancers. To qualify, in- dividuals must be between the ages of 50 and 84 and must have at least a 15 pack year smoking history. The number of pack years is calculated by multiplying the number of packs smoked per day by the number of years smoked. These requirements were expanded in 2021 to meet the new U.S. Preventive Task Force recom- mendation for starting LCS at age 50 instead of age 55. CARD was also able to drop the number of pack years from 20 to 15 because of the synergistic effect of smoking and asbestos exposure. Individually, both smoking and asbestos exposure increase the risk of lung cancer. In exposed individuals who also smoke, that risk increases dramatically. This program also lets us screen for mesothelioma, a specific cancer of the tissues surrounding the lung which is related to as- bestos exposure. Typically when lung cancers are caught early, successful treatment can be ini- tiated. At times, these scans incidentally pick up other disease processes involving the thyroid. heart, kidney, esophagus, liver, or breast. When that happens, CARD will refer the individual either back to their Primary Care Provider or to a specialist for further evaluation. Free LCS under the grant is available at facilities nationwide for those who qualify. The LCS can be done alone, but CARD providers prefer that qualified patients take advantage of our Long Distance Diagnosed (LDD) program to have a more holistic evaluation along with long distance LCS. Our LDD program provides care for diagnosed patients who do not live locally and are not able to make the trip to Libby. Through this program, the LCS, as well as any other testing required for the visit, can be done at a facility local to the patient. The CT film and the results are then forwarded to CARD for review prior to the telephone visit with a CARD provider. This is a great benefit for eligible patients, but only the LCS is covered under the grant. Any other testing done is billed through the patient's insurance. A LCS is usually scheduled in conjunction with an annual asbestos related disease (ARD) fol- low up at CARD and done prior to the appointment. If the patient is local, it can be scheduled a week or two in advance at the hospital in Libby so that both the film and the radiology report are available. The LCS for those who live out of town but are still being seen in Libby is sched- uled earlier on the day of the appointment. As such, the report, and sometimes the film itself, may not be available for review by the CARD provider during the visit. In these cases, there may be a later telephone call scheduled to review the results. All films are read by the CARD provider, as well as a CARD physician if the assigned provider is a physician assistant or nurse practitioner, in addition to the Radiologist for the facility at which it is done. All chest CT's done through the LCS program are also sent out to be read by an I-ELCAP (In- ternational Early Lung Cancer Action Program) radiologist. These radiologists are lung cancer screening experts. It can take one to two months for this review to take place, but once that report is received by CARD, it is compared to the initial reports on that same scan. If there is a discrepancy, the case is then reviewed again by the CARD Medical Director to determine a recommended course of action. The ELCAP findings are relayed to the patient either by letter or by telephone call. Lung Cancer Screening is an extremely important part of CARD's screening program. If you have been diagnosed with ARD and have smoked, you may be eligible for our LCS program. If you have spent at least 6 months in Lincoln County, Montana at least 10 years ago, you may be eligible for free asbestos health screening. To get more information, please call us at (406) 293-9274. CARD Center for Asbestos Related Disease Call 293-9274 or stop by 214 E. 3rd St to pick up a screening application. Testing available locally or from a distance. Screening provided through CDC grant # 5NU61TS000295. Ongoing care not covered. SCREENING // HEALTHCARE // EDUCATION // RESEARCH // OUTREACH CARD's Lung Cancer Screening Program The Center for Asbestos Related Disease offers free Lung Cancer Screening ( LCS ) to our pa- tients who have been diagnosed with asbestos related disease . This is funded by our grant from the Agency for Toxic Substances Disease Registry ( ATSDR ) , part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) . The screening involves a CT scan of the chest with a lower dose of radiation and is the accepted standard nationwide to screen for lung cancers . To qualify , in- dividuals must be between the ages of 50 and 84 and must have at least a 15 pack year smoking history . The number of pack years is calculated by multiplying the number of packs smoked per day by the number of years smoked . These requirements were expanded in 2021 to meet the new U.S. Preventive Task Force recom- mendation for starting LCS at age 50 instead of age 55. CARD was also able to drop the number of pack years from 20 to 15 because of the synergistic effect of smoking and asbestos exposure . Individually , both smoking and asbestos exposure increase the risk of lung cancer . In exposed individuals who also smoke , that risk increases dramatically . This program also lets us screen for mesothelioma , a specific cancer of the tissues surrounding the lung which is related to as- bestos exposure . Typically when lung cancers are caught early , successful treatment can be ini- tiated . At times , these scans incidentally pick up other disease processes involving the thyroid . heart , kidney , esophagus , liver , or breast . When that happens , CARD will refer the individual either back to their Primary Care Provider or to a specialist for further evaluation . Free LCS under the grant is available at facilities nationwide for those who qualify . The LCS can be done alone , but CARD providers prefer that qualified patients take advantage of our Long Distance Diagnosed ( LDD ) program to have a more holistic evaluation along with long distance LCS . Our LDD program provides care for diagnosed patients who do not live locally and are not able to make the trip to Libby . Through this program , the LCS , as well as any other testing required for the visit , can be done at a facility local to the patient . The CT film and the results are then forwarded to CARD for review prior to the telephone visit with a CARD provider . This is a great benefit for eligible patients , but only the LCS is covered under the grant . Any other testing done is billed through the patient's insurance . A LCS is usually scheduled in conjunction with an annual asbestos related disease ( ARD ) fol- low up at CARD and done prior to the appointment . If the patient is local , it can be scheduled a week or two in advance at the hospital in Libby so that both the film and the radiology report are available . The LCS for those who live out of town but are still being seen in Libby is sched- uled earlier on the day of the appointment . As such , the report , and sometimes the film itself , may not be available for review by the CARD provider during the visit . In these cases , there may be a later telephone call scheduled to review the results . All films are read by the CARD provider , as well as a CARD physician if the assigned provider is a physician assistant or nurse practitioner , in addition to the Radiologist for the facility at which it is done . All chest CT's done through the LCS program are also sent out to be read by an I - ELCAP ( In- ternational Early Lung Cancer Action Program ) radiologist . These radiologists are lung cancer screening experts . It can take one to two months for this review to take place , but once that report is received by CARD , it is compared to the initial reports on that same scan . If there is a discrepancy , the case is then reviewed again by the CARD Medical Director to determine a recommended course of action . The ELCAP findings are relayed to the patient either by letter or by telephone call . Lung Cancer Screening is an extremely important part of CARD's screening program . If you have been diagnosed with ARD and have smoked , you may be eligible for our LCS program . If you have spent at least 6 months in Lincoln County , Montana at least 10 years ago , you may be eligible for free asbestos health screening . To get more information , please call us at ( 406 ) 293-9274 . CARD Center for Asbestos Related Disease Call 293-9274 or stop by 214 E. 3rd St to pick up a screening application . Testing available locally or from a distance . Screening provided through CDC grant # 5NU61TS000295 . Ongoing care not covered . SCREENING // HEALTHCARE // EDUCATION // RESEARCH // OUTREACH