By offering free screenings, Hematology-Oncology Associates and CRA Medical Imaging want to give people at risk the chance to catch problems sooner, when treatment can be most effective
By Stefan Yablonski
With November as Lung Cancer Awareness Month, Hematology-Oncology Associates of CNY and CRA Medical Imaging are offering free lung cancer screenings from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Nov. 8, in two locations:
• HOA, 5008 Brittonfield Parkway, East Syracuse.
• HOA, 5490 Cobbler Way, Camillus.
Appointments are required by calling 315-472-7504, extension 1301. Walk-ins will not be accepted.
Lung cancer — both small cell and non-small cell — is the second most common cancer in both men and women in the United States (not counting skin cancer). In men, prostate cancer is more common, while breast cancer is more common in women.
“Lung cancer is by far the leading cause of cancer death in America,” said radiation oncologist Kavitha Prezzano, who practices at Hematology-Oncology Associates of CNY. “It accounts for about 1 in 5 of all cancer deaths. Each year, more people die of lung cancer than of colon, breast and prostate cancers combined.”
“The screening is for patients who are current or previous smokers or with a 20-pack year smoking history,” Prezzano said. “It’s a great way to catch these lung cancers which can be quite deadly early and be able to offer intervention earlier and hopefully save lives. Early detection is the best tool against lung cancer.”
“By offering free screenings, HOA and CRA want to give people at risk the chance to catch problems sooner, when treatment can be most effective,” explained Jillian Eastman, a pulmonary nurse practitioner who manages the Lungs for Life program at HOA.
This screening is available for people at high risk for lung cancer, meaning they must meet all the following criteria:
• Are 50 to 80 years old
• Are currently a heavy smoker or one who has quit within the last 15 years (Heavy smoking is defined as: one pack of cigarettes per day for 20 years or two packs of cigarettes per day for 10 years)
• And have not previously received a free lung cancer screening through this program.
“Early detection is the best tool we have against lung cancer. By offering these free screenings with HOA, we want to give people at risk the chance to catch problems sooner, when treatment can be most effective,” agreed CRA’s chief operating officer Jacqui Floyd.
“Screening is about more than finding cancer early — it’s about giving patients peace of mind and connecting them with resources like smoking cessation programs and ongoing support,” Eastman said.
This annual clinic is a free community service from HOA and CRA. Anyone who meets the criteria can contact HOA’s Lungs for Life Program at 315-472-7504 extension 1301 to arrange a screening.
The American Cancer Society’s estimates for lung cancer in the US for 2025 are:
• About 226,650 new cases of lung cancer (110,680 in men and 115,970 in women)
• About 124,730 deaths from lung cancer (64,190 in men and 60,540 in women)
Some good news
On a positive note, according to the American Cancer Society, the number of new lung cancer cases continues to decrease, partly because more people are quitting smoking or not starting. The number of deaths from lung cancer continues to drop as well, due to fewer people smoking and advances in treatment and early detection.
“We hope the survival rate continues to improve. That is what we have seen in the last few years,” Prezzano said. “Cases have been going down and survival has been improving. If you never start smoking, it reduces your chances of ever developing lung cancer,”