Editor, Gazette-Journal:

More women and men die of lung cancer each year than any other cancer—more than breast, prostate and colorectal cancer combined. In 2018 alone, nearly 6,000 people in Virginia will be diagnosed with lung cancer.

Lung cancer screening is a new method of early detection that is a powerful tool to save lives. At Sentara Healthcare, we are committed to finding and treating this cancer early. We’ve completed more than 3,000 screenings so far in 2018 and have diagnosed more than 30 lung cancers. We encourage lung cancer screenings for adults between 55 to 80 years old who have a 30 pack-year smoking history, and who currently smoke or have quit within the last 15 years.

As a thoracic surgeon, I am intimately involved in lung cancer treatment. For early stages and even advanced lung cancer, surgery is a key modality to treat and cure lung cancer. We strongly emphasize timeliness with diagnosis and treatment, which is why a lung cancer screening can save...