The Lung Nodule Program at St. Anthony's Hospital

About Our Lung Nodule Program

If you or a loved one is at risk for lung cancer, St. Anthony’s Hospital has a program to help you breathe a bit easier. We created the Lung Nodule Program to promote early lung cancer detection, because early detection can save lives. During the screening process, a dedicated nurse navigator works with you and your primary care doctor. If there is an abnormal result, the navigator and specialists will help guide you through the next steps.

Program Benefits

  • A multidisciplinary team reviews all patients who have high-risk pulmonary nodules.  
  • Getting a diagnosis and starting treatment is quick and efficient.  
  • You have access to the cutting-edge diagnostic and treatment options available at St. Anthony’s Hospital.
  • A dedicated nurse navigator will guide you through every step.

Low-Dose CT Chest Screening

This affordable, low-dose CT chest screening can help detect lung cancer in high-risk patients who smoke or have a history of heavy smoking. It’s available at several BayCare Outpatient Imaging centers in south Pinellas County. You must have a doctor’s prescription for this screening and many insurance providers require that you have a consultation with a doctor.

 

Screening Criteria

  • Ages 50–77 (up to age 80 for managed care)  
  • Asymptomatic (no signs or symptoms of lung cancer)  
  • Current smokers or those who have quit smoking within the last 15 years  
  • Tobacco smoking history of at least 20 pack years. Example: One pack per day for 20 years = 20 pack years; two packs per day for 10 years = 20 pack years

Cost

For uninsured cash-pay patients, the cost is $99 (due at time of service). Learn more about financial assistance options at BayCare.

Results

After the screening, the nurse navigator will identify patients who have high-risk results. They’ll contact the patient’s primary care doctor to ask for permission to bring the results to a multidisciplinary team. The team includes representatives from pulmonology, radiology, medical oncology, radiation oncology and thoracic surgery. They’ll review the results and recommend a treatment plan. The nurse navigator will share these recommendations with the patient’s primary care doctor and will help with the next steps in the treatment plan.
Doctor reviewing a chest x ray with patient.

For more information about the Lung Nodule Program at St. Anthony’s Hospital, please contact the Nurse Navigator:

Phone: (727) 940-2797
Fax: (727) 333-6232
Email

If you smoke or have smoked, you may be eligible for a lung cancer screening. Talk to your doctor about lung cancer screening eligibility.