Lung Cancer Screening Program Continues to Expand in the Bronx

More than 1,600 Bronx residents were screened for lung cancer during Montefiore Einstein Cancer Center’s (MECC’s) 2022 lung cancer screening and education events—a nearly 60% increase from 2021.

That’s encouraging given that early lung cancer detection leads to better survival rates and healthier outcomes. The number of people diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer in the Bronx is higher than the national average, which makes it all the more important to spread the news about the power of screening and early detection.

See how the Lung Cancer Screening Program team helped to educate the community about the benefits of early lung cancer screening:

“The earlier the diagnosis, the more and better treatment options,” said Maria Serrano, ANP-BC, AOCNP. “We want people to know they can get this sort of care here, right in their own community—and that we are going to be with them every step of the way,” added Casey Mercado, DNP, MECC's Lung Cancer Screening Program.

As part of its effort to ensure lung cancer screenings are available and accessible, Montefiore Einstein began offering screenings and education in December 2012. Just a handful of residents participated back then, but thanks to extensive outreach inclucing physician/provider education, community events, and social media efforts by our lung cancer screening team, the program has grown substantially. 

MECC’s lung cancer screening program is one of the country’s longest-running, along with being the first lung cancer screening program of its kind in the Bronx. It continues to develop additional programs and partnerships to reach more people.

Anyone who meets the criteria is eligible to be screened for lung cancer. Eligibility includes being 50 to 80 years old, in fairly good health, who currently smoke or have quit in the past 15 years and have at least a 20 “pack-year” smoking history. (The number of packs of cigarettes they smoked daily multiplied by the number of years they smoked must equal at least 20.) Those at higher risk are encouraged to be screened annually to identify abnormal areas in the lungs that may be cancer.

The Computed Tomography (CT) screening process itself is quick and painless and requires no special preparation.

“It was simple," said Jesus Mathews. "You lay on the bed and go through this futuristic hole. It takes three seconds.”

During the screening events, which coincided with November’s Lung Cancer Awareness Month, the Bronx Oncology Living Daily (BOLD) team distributed information about other recommended cancer screenings while the BOLD Tobacco Cessation Program team distributed information about a virtual (remote) smoking cessation program consists of eight sessions in English or Spanish that may be repeated if desired. 

The events were held in the Moses East Garden and the Greene Medical Arts Pavilion lobby. Sponsors included Genentech, American Cancer Society and GO₂ Foundation for Lung Cancer. Helpful resources from Montefiore Radiology, Colorectal Screening and Medical Oncology also were available.

For more information, or to book a cancer screening of any type through MECC, call 718-430-3613.