Nikolaos A. Dallas, Vice President and Clinical Lead, Cancer National Service Line, IL Division at Advocate Health, shared on LinkedIn:
“Today is National Lung Cancer Screening Day, during Lung Cancer Awareness Month.
As a surgeon of many cancers, I’ve seen how profoundly the stage at diagnosis can change the conversation. When lung cancer is detected early, patients are more likely to have meaningful treatment options, including potentially curative surgery.
Early detection is not just a test. It is a system of care.
Finding the right patients is only the beginning. We have to make eligibility easier to understand. We have to reach people before symptoms develop. Screening has to be convenient. And when an abnormality is found, patients need a clear and timely path to evaluation and treatment.
At Advocate Health, I’m proud we’re working to make that journey easier to navigate. Our efforts include proactive outreach, digital pathways through LiveWell, virtual screening visits, and a broader focus on removing barriers between screening, diagnosis and specialized cancer care. We will continue to move the needle under the leadership of our Enterprise leader for Thoracic Oncology, Rogerio Lilenbaum.
Strong programs shouldn’t make us complacent. Our own team recently highlighted that only about 1 in 5 eligible U.S. adults was up to date with lung cancer screening.
That reframes the challenge.
The question for Advocate isn’t: ‘Do we offer lung cancer screening?’
It’s: ‘How easy have we made it for the right patient to be screened, diagnosed and treated?’
Because having an excellent screening program matters.
Building a system that reliably helps patients reach it matters even more.”
You can also read: Financial Incentives Improve Smoking Cessation Among Underserved Patients Referred for Lung Cancer Screening
