Concord Hospital Medical Group Joins Statewide Lung Cancer Screening Awareness Campaign

Concord Hospital Medical Group Joins Statewide Lung Cancer Screening Awareness Campaign

Concord Hospital Medical Group is joining healthcare organizations across New Hampshire in a statewide effort to increase awareness of lung cancer screening and help eligible residents learn whether they could benefit from this potentially lifesaving test.

Led by the NH Cancer Partnership, the initiative brings together hospitals, health systems, healthcare professionals, and community organizations with a shared goal: increasing the number of eligible New Hampshire residents who receive recommended lung cancer screening.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States, and screening with a low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) scan can detect lung cancer at an earlier, more treatable stage. Yet only 31.1% of eligible New Hampshire residents are currently up to date with recommended lung cancer screening according to 2024 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data.

"Lung cancer can develop without obvious symptoms, which is why screening is so important for people who are at higher risk," said Martin D. Black, MD, Concord Pulmonary Medicine. "Finding cancer earlier can give patients more options for treatment and the opportunity for better outcomes. We want people to understand their risk and talk with their healthcare provider about whether lung cancer screening is appropriate for them."

People may be eligible for lung cancer screening if they:

• Are 50 to 80 years old (50-77 years old if on Medicare);
• Have a 20-pack year history of smoking (for example, one pack per day for 20 years).
• Currently smoke, or quit smoking within the past 15 years.
• Have no other known malignancy or major co-morbidities that would prevent treatment.

The statewide campaign includes community education, outreach through local organizations, educational resources, and engagement with healthcare professionals to improve awareness and increase referrals for screening. By working together, participating organizations hope to reduce barriers to screening and ensure more residents have access to information and care.

"Too many people who could benefit from lung cancer screening either don't realize they qualify or haven't had a conversation about it," said Kamen Rangelov, MD, Concord Hospital Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine - Laconia. "By raising awareness across New Hampshire, we can help more people understand who should be screened and make an informed decision with their healthcare team. Increasing screening means more opportunities to identify lung cancer when it may be easier to treat."

Residents are encouraged to visit the campaign website to:

• Learn who qualifies for lung cancer screening;
• Understand the benefits and potential risks of screening;
• Talk with their healthcare team about whether screening is right for them.

The campaign website is available at: dhhs.nh.gov/lungscreening