Lung Cancer Screening
Smoke? Screen.
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in the U.S., but it's highly treatable when detected early. Kaweah Health's Lung Screening Program combines advanced imaging with compassionate, personalized guidance to help patients take control of their health.
Take our free, online health risk assessment
Talk to your primary care provider about a referral for lung cancer screening. Don't have a provider? Find one near you at our Kaweah Health clinic locations.
What is lung cancer screening?
Lung cancer screening uses a low-dose CT (LDCT) scan to look for early signs of lung cancer. It is a quick, painless scan that takes about 15-minutes and can detect small lung nodules or abnormalities years before they appear on an X-ray—offering more treatment options and better outcomes.
Most insurance plans cover screening for adults ages 50–80 with a history of smoking, even if they quit years ago. But family history, environmental exposure, and secondhand smoke can also raise your risk. Kaweah Health can help even if you don’t meet standard insurance criteria or if a lung nodule was found by accident during another test.
You could qualify for lung cancer screening if you meet all of the following criteria:
- Between the ages of 50 and 80
- Current or former smoker who quit within the last 15 years
- Have a 20-pack year* (at minimum) smoking history
*To calculate your "pack-years", multiply the number of packs (20 cigarettes) you smoke each day by the number of years you've smoked.
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Our Compassionate Care Team
Walter Gribben, MD
Pulmonologist
Bhupinder Chatrath, MD
Medical Oncologist, Hematologist
Amitoj Gill, MD
Medical Oncologist, Hematologist
Sanjai Sharma, MD
Medical Oncologist, Hematologist
David Ly, MD
Radiation Oncologist
Danny Vazquez, MD
Radiation Oncologist
Shelly Bansal, MD
Cardiothoracic Surgeon
Pam Montgomery, RN
Cutting-edge Technology
Kaweah Health now offers Ion—a new, minimally invasive robotic-assisted bronchoscopy procedure that can shorten lung cancer diagnosis by weeks. Developed by Intuitive, the pioneer in robotic-assisted surgery with da Vinci® systems, Ion can access all 18 segments of the lungs to perform targeted biopsies. Learn more.
Supporting Patients and Physicians at Every Stage
Meet Pam Montgomery, RN – Our Oncology Nurse Navigator
Pam Montgomery has been part of Kaweah Health for over 15 years, guiding cancer patients and their families through every step of their care. As our dedicated Nurse Navigator, Pam ensures patients understand what to expect, connects them with the right resources, and coordinates closely with physicians to make each step of the journey smoother. Her expertise in oncology and commitment to early detection help patients get the best possible outcomes—because having someone by your side can make all the difference. Learn more.
To reach Pam call (559) 624-3111.
For Referring Physicians
Our experienced oncology nurse navigator is available to help guide you and your patients.
To refer a patient, please fax the following to (559) 635-6350
- Recent imaging history
- Patient history and progress notes
- Any related treatments or procedures
- Referral order
Kaweah Health Medical Clinic - Willow
Pulmonology
202 W Willow Ave., Suite 202
Visalia, CA 93292
(559) 624-6580
Sequoia Regional Cancer Center (SRCC) - Visalia
4945 W Cypress Ave.
Visalia, CA 93277
Medical Oncology: (559) 624-3000
Radiation Oncology: (559) 624-3100
Kaweah Health Imaging & Breast Center
4949 W Cypress Ave.
Visalia, CA 93277
(559) 624-4000