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Athena Maris
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NEW CT LUNG CANCER SCREENING WILL SAVE LIVES BUT EDUCATION AND ACCEPTANCE IS NEEDED

Portland, OR, November 17, 1999--Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the US. Until now diagnosis of this devastating disease has relied on chest X-rays, a long-standing technology but one that lacks the sensitivity to reveal cancers in their earliest stages.

Survival rates have been dismal because almost 85% of tumors are discovered at late stage when treatment can do little to cure them. The result is an appalling survival rate of between 12 and 15 percent-until now.

Spiral CT Scanning has the ability to change this tragedy today and offer new hope to millions at risk for lung cancer but it will take physician education and insurance industry acceptance to make the new screening the accepted standard of diagnosis.

The facts are clear, in a study published in the July, 1999 issue of The Lancet, Spiral CT Scanning clearly identified Stage I tumors that chest X-rays missed. The promise of significantly increasing survival rates to as much as 80 percent was the exciting possibility explored by the study's author Dr. Claudia Henschke, division chief of chest imaging at Cornell Medical Center in New York.

The problem for patients, however, is that the time between discovery and common practice is often too long to wait for those most in need. Given the life saving potential of CT Lung Cancer Screening this delay is simply unacceptable.

Dr. Gerald Warnock, Medical Director of EPIC Imaging is taking a proactive stance to help ensure Oregonians don't have to wait. EPIC has launched an educational campaign to physicians detailing The Lancet study findings. The campaign includes personal letters, a brochure and newspaper ads as well as patient information brochures to be placed in doctors' offices throughout our community.

In addition, EPIC is making the life-saving CT Lung Cancer Screening available to patients for a flat, low-cost fee ($325) just slightly more than the cost of two traditional X-rays. The goal of this program is to make the procedure an affordable option to all Oregonians at risk for lung cancer.

Traditionally, insurance companies lag behind the research in recognizing new methodologies for reimbursement. Dr. Warnock feels the potential benefits are simply too important to wait for reimbursements to catch up.

EPIC will offer the screenings on its newly acquired Toshiba Aquilion scanner. The scanner's leading edge technology allows for the entire lungs to be scanned in a single breathhold making the procedure not only very affordable but also extremely fast.

Dr. Warnock predicts widespread acceptance of this breakthrough technique by insurance companies will not take long. In the meantime, he is committed to providing proactive solutions for quality patient care.

EPIC Imaging is the leading, full-service, outpatient imaging resource serving Oregon and Southwest Washington. Our family of centers consists of EPIC Imaging|East, EPIC Imaging|West, EPIC Imaging|ENT and The Portland P|E|T Center which houses the first dedicated Positron Emission Technology (PET) scanner in the region.

Founded in 1959 and acquired by Dr. Gerald L. Warnock in 1964, EPIC has continued to grow and prosper by following one simple philosophy, combine the most advanced diagnostic imaging technology with the best in patient care and service.

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