Pottstown Hospital – Tower Health has joined a nationwide effort to encourage patients to resume appropriate cancer screenings to diagnose and treat cancer during their earliest stage. Pottstown Hospital is urging people across the country to talk with their healthcare providers to resume their regular primary care annual checkups and recommended cancer screenings. This has the potential to lessen the negative impact the pandemic is having on identifying and treating people with cancer.
Throughout the pandemic, many healthcare resources were redirected to combat rising COVID-19 cases and to prevent the spread of the virus. Elective medical procedures, including cancer screenings, were largely put on hold at the onset of the pandemic. The impact was immediate, as screening-related procedures dropped drastically in March and May 2020 according to the American Cancer Society (ACS). Estimates also project 35% of Americans missed routine cancer screenings due to COVID-19 related fears and service disruptions. ACS foresees that the pandemic-related reductions in healthcare access and cancer screening will result in a short-term drop in cancer diagnoses and a later corresponding increase in late-state diagnoses and preventable deaths.
“Simply put, regular cancer screening tests can improve and save your life,” said Peggy Neese, RN, BSN, OCN, Director of the Cancer Center at Pottstown Hospital. “Screening increases the chance of detecting some cancers earlier and at their most treatable stage. At Pottstown Hospital, we have seen a decline in lung cancer screenings during the COVID-19 pandemic. We’re encouraging everyone in our community to talk to their doctor or a healthcare professional about getting on track with their recommended cancer screenings.”
Lung Cancer Screenings with computed tomography (CT) scans are for patients at a high risk for lung cancer. Pottstown Hospital is also an accredited Lung Cancer Screening Center by the American College of Radiology. If you meet the following screening guidelines, you may be eligible for a Low-Dose screening CT scan:
- Ages 50-80
- Asymptomatic (no sign or symptoms of lung cancer)
- Current smoker or once smoked but have quit in the past 15 years
- Cigarette tobacco smoking history of at least 20 "pack years"
Please call Pottstown Hospital’s Lung Navigator, Anita Slobodin, BS, RT (R) MMR, MRSO, with any questions at 610-327-7524 or speak to your primary care provider.
About Pottstown Hospital
Located in Pottstown, Pa., and a member of Tower Health, Pottstown Hospital is a 219-bed hospital that offers a full range of health services, including inpatient and outpatient, medical and surgical, and diagnostic and emergency care. Accredited by The Joint Commission, Pottstown Hospital has been recognized for its quality outcomes and clinical expertise across many service lines. The hospital is Joint Commission-certified for hip and knee replacement and is also an accredited Chest Pain Center. Recently, Pottstown Hospital was recognized as a recipient of the 2020 Get With The Guidelines®-Stroke Gold Plus & Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite Award by the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. For more information, visit Pottstown Hospital.