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THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, MARCH 22, 2024 Page 19 Say nr Sa a y Senior Seni by Jim Miller Who Should Be Screened for Lung Cancer? Dear Savvy Senior, Who should be screened for lung cancer and how it’s covered by Medicare? I used to smoke but quit many years ago and am wondering if I need to be tested. Just Turned 65 Dear Just Turned, Even if you haven’ t touched a cigarette in decades, you could still be due for an annual lung cancer screening, based on new recommendations from the American Cancer Society (ACS). The new guidelines state that adults ages 50 to 80 who currently smoke or used to smoke the equivalent of one pack a day for 20 years should get an annual low -dose computed tomography scan (also called a CT scan), no matter how long ago you quit. ACS guidelines previously said that those who quit 15 or more years ago were in the clear. But new studies have shown that expanding screening eligibility saves lives, even among people who quit smoking years earlier. Early Detection Saves Lives Lung cancer is the deadliest cancer in the United States. According to the American Cancer Society, an estimated 234,580 new cases are expected to be diagnosed in 2024, and about 125,070 Americans will die from the disease. While lung cancer can occur in anyone at any age, cigarette smoking is the top risk factor and is linked to about 80 to 90 percent of lung cancer deaths, and most people diagnosed with the disease are age 65 or older. What makes lung cancer especially tricky is that it’s often symptomless until it’s at an advanced stage, when it’s harder to treat. Early deGREATEST | FROM PAGE 15 hospital campuses, a network of primary care and specialty practices and the Cambridge Public Health Dept. CHA patients have seamless access to advanced care through the system’s affi liation with Beth tection can lead to a 20 to 25 percent improvement in survival rates, resulting in fewer deaths from lung cancer. But a 2022 report from the American Lung Association found that only 5.8 percent of people eligible for lung cancer screening in the U.S. get screened, and the screening rate is as low as 1 percent in some states. Screening & Coverage If you fall into the population eligible for a lung cancer screening, start by speaking with your doctor, even if it’s been a long time since you smoked. Medicare Part B will cover lung cancer screenings with a low-dose CT scan once a year for people ages 50 to 77 who are current smokers or quit in the last 15 years and have a 20-pack-year history. Patients must have an order from their doctor or health care provider and should not have symptoms of lung cancer. A low-dose CT scan is a noninvasive test where you lie down and hold your breath while being moved through a doughnut-shaped X-ray machine. The scan takes several X-ray images of the lungs and can help to identify possible abnormalities in the lung tissue. There are some potential risks with this screening, including the possibility of false positives, which can lead to more scans or invasive procedures. According to the American Lung Association about 12 to 14 percent of lung cancer screening scans will have a false positive, which is about the same rate as with mammograms. Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book. Israel Lahey Health. CHA is a Harvard Medical School teaching affi liate and is also affi liated with the Harvard School of Public Health, the Harvard School of Dental Medicine and the Tufts University School of Medicine. nior ior O OBITUARIES Erna Noftle f Milton, FL and formerly of Everett, MA. Passed away peacefully at the age of 93 on Saturday, March 9th. Erna was born on September 19, 1930 and was raised in Holzhiem, Germany. She was predeceased by her husband Edward. She is the loving mother of Flo Pressley and her husband Butch of Milton, FL, Sonny Noftle of Revere, Jimmy Noftle and his wife Cindy, and Bob Noftle and his wife Gina. She was the beloved daughter of the late Frant and Josephine (Teict) Semard. Erna was one of 10 children. She was the doting Nana to Michele, Cher, Stefanie, Danielle, Anthony, Joely, Michele, Nicole, James, Ryan, Janelle, Kyle, Jacob, Jackson, Emma, Skyler Kyra, Brody, Colton, Brayden, Julian and Ryan all of whom brought her great joy. Erna’s happiest moments were those spent with her family and friends. Erna grew up in Germany and where she eventually met and married her husband, Edward. They traveled to the United States where they established their home in Everett, MA. Erna was a caring, gracious, resilient woman who loved to sew, crochet, knit, and garden. Her beautiful, handmade items will always be treasured due to the love she put into making each one. Erna was a woman who was full of life and vitality. Erna’s family and friends are invited to gather at Puritan Lawn Cemetery in Peabody at 11 AM on Friday April 5th for a graveside service to celebrate her life. Lillian Ann (Ciulla) Sachetta O f Wakefi eld, formerly of Everett. Passed away peacefully after a brief illness, surrounded by her loving family, March 15. Daughter of the late Melchiore and Domenica “Mamie” (Santangelo) Ciulla. She was born in the North End of Boston and grew up in Chelsea. Beloved wife of the late Gus Sachetta, whom she married in 1956 and raised their family in Everett. Dear and devoted mother of Charles of Lynn, Nancy (Gordon) Howard of Wakefield, Donna Davidson of Everett, Marianne S achet - ta (Donna Rennie) of York, ME. Devoted sister of Antonette Pascucci of Lynnfi eld, Marie Ciulla of North Reading and the late Anna Ragusa and Leo Ciulla. Adored Nana of Lauren Howard, Jenna Horne (Brian), Nicole Howard, Marina Davidson and greatNana of her precious Lucy and Maya Rosencranz and Isla and Nolan Horne. Relatives and friends were respectfully invited to attend Lillian’s visiting hours in the Cafasso & Sons Funeral Home, 65 Clark St. (Corner of Main St.) Everett, Tuesday, March 19. Her funeral service was on Wednesday, in the Chapel at Woodlawn Cemetery, 302 Elm Street, Everett. Burial followed at the family lot at Woodlawn Cemetery. In lieu of fl owers, contributions in Lillian’s memory to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute/ Jimmy Fund, P.O. Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284-9168 would be sincerely appreciated. Samuel R. Ratta O f Everett. Entered into eternal rest on Thursday, March 14, 2024 in the Melrose-Wakefield Hospital. He was 93 years old. Born in East Boston, Sam lived in Everett for most of his life. He retired from the City of Everett as their Chief Procurement Offi cer. Sam was the son of the late Celia (Qualtieri) and Onofrio Ratta; the beloved husband of Mary P (Impemba) for almost 44 years; dear and devoted father of Robert F. Ratta of Madison, Wisc, Richard S. Ratta and his wife, MaryAnn of Venice, FL and Robin Ann Walsh and her late husband, Paul of Billerica; brother of the late Frank Ratta and his surviving wife, Eleanor and the late Rose Lettieri; he is also survived by many grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren as well as his step-sons Robert Nassor and his wife, Christine and Steven Nassor of Lynn. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend Sam’s visitation in the Cafasso & Sons Funeral Home, 65 Clark St. (Corner of Main St.) Everett, Saturday, March 23, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. followed by a funeral service at 11 a.m. Services will conclude with Sam’s entombment in the Woodlawn Cemetery Community Mausoleum (Versailles), Everett. In lieu of fl owers, contributions in Sam’s memory to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN, 38105, would be sincerely appreciated. Parking with attendants on duty.

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