November 9, 2026 | By Waterbury RoundaboutCopley Hospital’s Radiology Department will be offering lung scanning appointments this Saturday for people at risk for lung cancer.
A low-dose CT lung cancer screenings will be available between 8 a.m. and noon on Saturday, Nov. 14, as part of National Lung Cancer Screening Day. The event falls during Lung Cancer Awareness Month, observed each November.
Copley normally schedules lung screenings Monday-Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., which may be inconvenient for some people.
“Lung cancer is far more treatable when we catch it early, and a low-dose CT scan is one of the best tools we have to do that,” said Gabrielle Stone, director of radiology at Copley Hospital. “But a screening only helps if people can actually get to it. Opening a Saturday morning is a simple way to make that easier for folks who can't step away from work or family during the week and is part of our commitment to delivering high-quality care close to home.”
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death, but early detection through low-dose CT screening can save lives. The scan itself is quick and painless.
Patients may qualify for screening if they:
• Are between the ages of 50 and 80
• Have a smoking history of at least 20 pack-years
• Currently smoke or have quit within the past 15 years
• Have no signs or symptoms of lung cancer
A pack-year is calculated by multiplying the number of packs smoked per day by the number of years a person smoked. One pack a day for 20 years equals 20 pack-years. So does two packs a day for 10 years.
Medicare and many private insurance plans cover an annual lung cancer screening for patients who qualify. Medicare coverage applies to patients ages 50 to 77.
Appointments are required, and patients will need a screening order from their health care provider before they can be scheduled. Copley has asked local primary care practices to identify eligible patients, talk with them about the benefits and limitations of screening, and send in the hospital's low-dose CT screening form.
Anyone unsure whether screening is right for them is encouraged to check with their doctor. To schedule an appointment or learn more, call Copley Radiology at 802-888-8190 or 802-888-8014.