color, with Asian, Black, and Hispan - ic Americans at higher risk for these diseases. In New Jersey, Black men and women have higher colorectal
cancer mortality rates than those of other racial and ethnic groups. With this knowledge as a guiding princi- ple, Englewood Health has made a
an equitable chance to triumph over breast cancer.”
commitment to ensuring screenings for colorectal cancer are as assess- able as possible.
Guidelines Evolve: Breast, Lung, and Colorectal Cancer
Lowered Age Recommen- dation for Colorectal Cancer Screening Reflects Rising Incidence in Younger Individuals In 2021, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force issued a new recom- mendation that colorectal cancer screening for people at average risk should begin five years sooner—at age 45. A particular consideration within Englewood Health’s cancer strate- gy is the fact that New Jersey has a slightly higher incidence of col- orectal cancer (40.8 vs. 38.4 per 100,000 in the general population) than the nation. This may be due, at least in part, to lower screening rates. Among screening-age adults in the state, 36% of men and 35% of women report not being up to date with current screening guidelines, above the national average of 30%. Much of the colorectal cancer out- reach efforts at Englewood Health have focused on communities of
Recent years have seen a trend in national cancer screening guidelines, with three of the most pervasive cancers (lung, breast and colorectal) seeing their screening recommendations adjusted to include younger people. “The population of patients that we are screening for cancer is evolving,” says Meghan Kaumaya, MD, hematologist/oncologist at Englewood Health. “We’re screening patients for colorectal, breast, and lung cancers earlier now than ever before because the data indicates that many of these cancers are presenting at a younger age.”
Updated Lung Cancer Screening Guidelines Broaden Eligibility for Low Dose CT Scans
Annual lung cancer screening is now recommended to begin for individu- als ages 50-80 with a 20-pack-year smoking history, instead of the previ- ous recommendation of people ages 55-74 with a 30-pack-year history. Englewood Health has seen an in- creasing volume of patients diag- nosed with lung cancer at earlier stages—a direct result of the health system’s investment and expansion of its low-dose screening CT program. In 2011 the New England Journal of Medicine published the landmark findings from the National Lung Screening Trial: a low-dose CT scan of the lungs of smokers was found to detect tumors smaller than previ- ously possible. Prior to this discov - ery, there were few, if any, reliable methods of detecting lung cancer early, when patients had the best chance of successful treatment. “Ten to 15 years ago, saying the words ‘lung cancer’ and ‘cure’ in the same sentence was rare,” said Christos I. Stavropoulos, MD, chief of thoracic surgery and director of tho- racic oncology at The Lefcourt Fam- ily Cancer Treatment and Wellness Center at Englewood Health. “Today, there have been many advance- ments in lung cancer detection and treatment that have greatly impact- ed survival rates.”
an increased mortality rate among Black women, who are 40 percent more likely to die of breast cancer than White women. “It is a stark truth that Black wom - en face a higher risk of experienc- ing adverse outcomes in their bat- tle against breast cancer. Factors such as delayed diagnoses and limited access to quick intervention contribute to this alarming trend,” says Violet M. McIntosh, MD, chief of breast surgery at Englewood Health. “At Englewood Health, we are committed to addressing these disparities so that every woman has
Englewood Health has prioritized bringing low-dose CT scans, as well as the gamut of imaging and radiol- ogy services, into the communities it serves. With the aim of increas - ing participation in these lifesaving screenings, Englewood Health also has a dedicated patient navigator for lung cancer screenings. Christos Stavropoulos, MD, director of thoracic oncology at The Lefcourt Family Cancer Treatment and Wellness Center and chief of thoracic surgery
“This navigator’s objective is to help patients traverse the process of qualifying for, scheduling, and undergoing lung cancer screen- ings,” said Lewis M. Attas, MD, a hematologist and oncologist at Englewood Health. “The goal is to eliminate obstacles that might hin- der patients’ access to this critical screening option.”
Violet M. McIntosh, MD, chief of breast surgery.
Disparities in Outcomes Prompt Change in Mammogram Recommendations
In 2023, the U.S. Preventive Ser - vices Task Force announced new recommendations for breast cancer screening. The recommendations (in draft form, but not expected to change dramatically when finalized) call for women to begin receiv- ing mammograms every two years starting at age 40 if they are at av- erage risk for breast cancer. That’s a significant change from the pre- vious guidance that recommended women should begin mammograms at age 50. This change comes after an in- crease in diagnoses of breast can- cer among younger patients and
growth in colorectal cancer program** 33%
early stage lung cancer diagnoses* 214
patients treated for breast cancer* 1,872
Anna Serur, MD, chief of colon and rectal surgery.
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