How to Pursue Lung Cancer Screening

How to Pursue Lung Cancer Screening

How to Pursue Lung Cancer Screening

You can use this lung cancer screening decision aid to help you determine if lung cancer screening is right for you.

After reviewing the decision aid, if you wish to pursue lung cancer screening, contact your primary care physician. You and your physician can discuss the benefits and risks of lung cancer screening in more detail and make sure you meet all of the requirements.

If you are on Medicare, you are required to have a shared decision-making visit with your ordering provider to discuss eligibility, risks, benefits and smoking cessation before your first lung cancer screen. For your comfort and convenience, your Northwestern Medicine physician may be able to schedule a virtual visit with you so you can have this conversation by telephone or video chat without leaving home. Go to nm.org/telehealth to learn more about this option.

Before undergoing lung cancer screening, you will need to talk with your physician to determine your eligibility. Your physician will provide you with information, including potential risks and benefits of low-dose CT lung screening.

  • If you do not have a primary care physician, please call 844.344.6663 for help with choosing a physician and scheduling an appointment.
  • All of our physician profiles can be viewed at nm.org/doctors.

After you have discussed screening with your physician, including a formal shared decision-making visit if required by Medicare, your physician will order your low-dose CT screening if appropriate. If screening is ordered, you can schedule the procedure at your convenience at one of Northwestern Medicine’s lung cancer screening locations, many of which are American College of Radiology (ACR) Designated Lung Cancer Screening Centers and/or have been awarded the Screening Center of Excellence designation by the GO2 Foundation.

To find a lung screening location that is best for you, please call 312.926.LUNG. TTY for all locations: 711.