Mobile Van Launches to Deliver Lung Cancer Screenings Across NYC

A newly launched mobile health screening van is set to enhance access to advanced lung cancer detection for at-risk New Yorkers. The initiative, a partnership among Weill Cornell Imaging at NewYork-Presbyterian, the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, and the Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center at Weill Cornell Medicine, aims to facilitate early diagnosis and improve health equity.

Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States, with an estimated 227,000 cases expected in 2025. While low-dose CT scans can identify the disease in its early stages before symptoms arise, only 19% of eligible New Yorkers currently receive recommended screenings. The mobile van is designed to close this gap by addressing logistical and geographical barriers that often prevent patients from accessing preventive care.

Bringing Screenings to the Streets

The mobile unit, measuring 40 feet and weighing 44,000 pounds, is equipped with the same advanced CT scanning technology available at Weill Cornell Medicine and other partner institutions. It will travel across the five boroughs of New York City, making lung cancer screenings more convenient for residents.

Dr. Bradley Pua, program director and an associate professor of radiology at Weill Cornell Medicine, emphasized the initiative’s objective: “Our goal is to break down the systemic and logistical barriers that keep patients from receiving timely, high-quality care. We’re taking the scanner to the streets—directly to the people who need it most.”

The program will not only provide screenings but also offer streamlined care navigation, tobacco cessation support, and seamless referrals. This comprehensive approach aims to enhance the overall health of communities, particularly in areas with limited resources.

Focus on Community Health

Dr. A. Phoenix Matthews, co-director of the Community Outreach and Engagement Core at the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, underscored the importance of this initiative. “Addressing the lung cancer burden in our communities is a top priority for both our cancer centers. We are dedicated to improving the health of all New York City residents by providing access to high-quality screening, especially in resource-limited areas.”

A formal ribbon-cutting ceremony on October 17, 2023, at Weill Cornell Medicine will celebrate the van’s launch. The mobile unit will be stationed near community-based Federally Qualified Health Centers and in neighborhoods identified through an evidence-based approach that considers lung cancer incidence, mortality rates, and smoking prevalence.

Eligibility for low-dose CT (LDCT) screening includes individuals aged 50-80 (or 50-77 for Medicare), current or former smokers who have quit within the last 15 years, and those with at least 20 pack-years of smoking history. According to the American Cancer Society, a pack-year is defined as smoking one pack, or approximately 20 cigarettes, per day for one year.

Screenings and consultations are typically fully covered by commercial insurance, Medicare, and Medicaid, ensuring no cost sharing for patients. To schedule a telehealth consultation, individuals can call 646-962-LUNG (5864) or visit the Weill Cornell Imaging website for more information about the mobile screening locations.

This initiative represents a significant step forward in making lung cancer screenings more accessible, with the potential to save lives through early detection.