Make a Change for a Healthy Future at RWJUH Somerset’s Tobacco Quitcenter This November

Chris Kosten, PsyD, program manager of the Tobacco Quitcenter at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset

This November, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset (RWJUH) invites the community to put down their cigarettes or other tobacco products and join us by participating in National Lung Cancer Awareness month. Claiming over 160,000 lives each year, lung cancer is a serious disease that can affect anyone, but tobacco smokers are at an increased risk. Every puff of a cigarette, pipe, cigar or hookah, exposes the lungs to over 7,000 dangerous chemicals, including over 70 carcinogens and other poisons. With prolonged use, these foreign particles damage the lungs, giving way to cancerous cells and painful symptoms. To help individuals quit smoking, RWJUH Somerset is sponsoring a new Pack Exchange program at the Tobacco Quitcenter located at the Steeplechase Cancer Center throughout the month of November.

Participants are invited to trade a pack of cigarettes for a free consultation at the Tobacco Quitcenter, a comprehensive dependency treatment program currently offered at Steeplechase Cancer Center at RWJUH Somerset. After meeting with a specialized counselor, patients will be provided a one-week supply of nicotine replacement therapy, such as nicotine gum, lozenges or patches, to help kick start their journey towards freedom from tobacco. Members of the Tobacco Quitcenter staff will also determine an individual’s eligibility for RWJUH’s Low-Dose Lung Cancer Screening Program.

Offered on RWJUH’s New Brunswick and Somerset campuses, RWJUH’s Lung Cancer Screening Program provides low-dose computed tomography (CT) scans to high-risk individuals. Lung cancer doesn’t always present symptoms until advanced stages, so screenings are crucial to early detection. Each scan takes about 5-10 minutes to complete but can add years to your life. Low-dose CT scans are available on both campuses throughout the year, regardless of participation in the Pack Exchange program. Qualifying individuals must be over the age of 55, have a long history of smoking and have no symptoms of lung cancer. The screenings are covered by Medicare and private insurers. To see if you are eligible for a low-dose lung cancer screening and for more information about insurance coverage, please view the qualifications at http://www.rwjuh.edu/rwjuh/lung-cancer-screening-program.aspx.

The Lung Center at the Steeplechase Cancer Center at RWJUH Somerset provides support for every step of quitting smoking and lung cancer prevention and detection, including screening, diagnosis, treatment and outpatient services. Individuals who want to quit, who are at-risk or those that have been diagnosed with lung cancer can participate in counseling, support groups and screenings through the hospital’s various programs. The Tobacco Quitcenter, offering evaluation, breath carbon monoxide testing, specialized counseling and pharmacotherapy, has assisted over 4,100 tobacco users. To learn more about how the Tobacco Quitcenter can help relieve your dependence from cigarettes or other tobacco products, please visit http://www.rwjuh.edu/scc/tobaccoquitcenter.aspx.

An appointment is required for a consultation with the Tobacco Quitcenter. To schedule an appointment, call the Tobacco Quitcenter at 908-685-2442. The Tobacco Quitcenter is located at the Steeplechase Cancer Center at RWJUH Somerset, 30 Rehill Avenue, Somerville, N.J. To make an appointment for a low-dose lung cancer screening at RWJUH Somerset or New Brunswick, call 1-855-RWJ-LUNG (1-855-795-5864).