Spencer, IA (KICD)– Lung cancer is the second most common cancer diagnosed in the United States and the team at Spencer Hospital are making to push to get more people screened early.

Erin Peterson is a CT Technologist in the Diagnostic Imaging Department. She tells KICD News that lung cancer, like other cancers, typically has the best outcome if the illness is caught early.

A screening exam does require a referral from a patient’s primary care physician with a few other qualifications as well.

Lung cancer is also by far the leading cause of cancer related deaths with an estimated 127 thousand people estimated to lose their lives to the disease this year.