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Detect lung cancer early: New screening in Merheim from 2024!
From April 2024, the Merheim Clinic will be offering lung cancer screening for smokers aged 50 and over for early detection.
Detect lung cancer early: New screening in Merheim from 2024!
In the lung clinic at Merheim Hospital, a lot is happening in the area of early detection of lung cancer. A newly introduced screening for the early detection of this insidious disease is available thanks to the generous support of the Britta and Peter Wurm Foundation. This screening is aimed at asymptomatic people between the ages of 50 and 75 who have smoked for at least 25 years or are still actively smoking. Participants should be comfortable with a daily pack of cigarettes, while unfortunately former smokers who quit more than ten years ago cannot benefit from the measure.
The first test subject to use the new service is 61-year-old Beate Brings. She has been smoking since she was 14 and shows the importance of early screening. The screening itself only takes about two minutes – a quick process that provides results immediately. This is done using an open CT machine, perfect for those who are claustrophobic. In addition, no contrast agents or injections are used in this examination and the radiation exposure remains below legal requirements, which offers additional safety.
A new opportunity for those affected
With around 57,000 new diagnoses in Germany every year, lung cancer represents a serious challenge. The most common cause of this disease is still active smoking, which accounts for 90 percent of cases in men and at least 60 percent in women. In addition, lung cancer accounts for one in three cancers in women and one in two in men Cancer data prove. These sad statistics underscore the urgency and need for early detection measures.
As part of a new regulation of the G-BA A nationwide expansion of the range of services for the early detection of lung cancer is planned from April 2026. In the future, all current and former smokers aged 50 to 75 who have regularly consumed cigarettes in the last 25 years will be able to take advantage of lung cancer screenings. The examinations are then carried out every 12 months using low-dose computer tomography.
A step towards improvement
With this step, the G-BA is pursuing the goal of significantly increasing the chances of survival through early diagnosis. The procedure is subject to strict quality requirements, and the radiologists must also have special qualifications. The legal reviews are currently underway and the infrastructure to carry out the screenings is being prepared.
The Lung Cancer Early Detection Ordinance, which came into force on July 1, 2024, sets the stage for responsible and efficient combating of this disease. It remains exciting to see how screening develops in Merheim and how many people can benefit from it. It is clear that the initiative is not only intended to contribute to the early detection of lung cancer, but also to offer incentives to quit tobacco.
For all those affected and interested: faster diagnostics could perhaps soon save lives. Anyone interested in taking part in the screening can conveniently arrange an examination appointment online and take the first step towards a smoke-free future.