Free Lung Cancer Screening at Valley Health

A lung cancer screening takes just seconds on a CT table, and it could save your life. With Lung Cancer Awareness Month kicking off in November, Janet Michael sits down with Dr. Percival Buenaventura, a board-certified cardiothoracic surgeon with Valley Health at Winchester Medical Center, to talk about who should get screened, the risk factors people overlook, and how far lung cancer treatment has come.

Dr. Buenaventura explains who qualifies for a low-dose CT screening, why quitting smoking years ago doesn't mean you're in the clear, and why feeling fine can be misleading when early lung cancer has no symptoms. He also shares how Hawkeye Pierce on M*A*S*H set him on the path to surgery, why Valley Health's robotic surgery program surprised him after coming from West Virginia University, and why he'd send his own family to Winchester Medical Center. Plus, you'll get details on Valley Health's free low-dose CT screening event on Saturday, November 14, for people who are uninsured or underinsured. Spots are limited, so register early.

EVENT DETAILS

What: Free Low-Dose CT Lung Cancer Screening Event, Valley Health, in partnership with Valley Health Foundations When: Saturday, November 14, 2026, 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Where: Winchester Medical Center Diagnostic Center, on the Winchester Medical Center campus (Pink Parking Lot) Cost: Free for uninsured or underinsured people who meet the screening criteria, including patients with Medicare Part A only and no outpatient coverage Who qualifies: Adults ages 50 to 77 with a 20 pack-year smoking history (for example, a pack a day for 20 years or a half pack a day for 40 years) who currently smoke or have quit within the past 15 years What to expect: A free consultation with a pulmonologist before your scan, the low-dose CT scan, and a follow-up consultation with a pulmonologist to go over your results. Patient navigators, financial assistance information, and smoking cessation counseling and resources are available on-site. Registration: Registration and pre-screening are required, and space is limited. Call the Lung Cancer Screening Navigator at 844-LDCTNOW (844-532-8669) by Wednesday, November 11. LINKS & RESOURCES

Free screening event and registration: valleyhealthlink.com/LDCT Valley Health lung cancer screening: valleyhealthlink.com/our-services/imaging/lung-cancer-screening Dr. Percival Buenaventura (profile, accepting new patients): valleyhealthlink.com/find-a-doctor/percival-buenaventura-md THE VALLEY