Philips and Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center Team Up

Partner on a mobile mission to increase life-saving lung cancer screenings in high-need communities

Now compare that number with the incidence of lung cancer in the city of Buffalo, which is about 35% higher than the statewide rate, and lung cancer is the second-leading cause of death in New York [1]. The incidence is even higher for certain segments of the population, such as firefighters, who, studies have found, face a 60% increased risk of developing lung cancer [2]. And yet the majority do not qualify for lung cancer early detection based on current federal guidelines.  

According to Dr. Candace Johnson, President and CEO at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, “Lung cancer is a killer. It’s associated with smoking, but there are many people that are non-smokers that get lung cancer. Our incidence and our mortality or death from lung cancer is greater in western New York than in the rest of the United States.”

These staggering statistics led New York State to partner with Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center and Philips in bringing mobile lung cancer screening to upstate New York. A model for public-private partnership, the program is funded in part by New York State, the state's first investment of its kind, aimed at advancing public health through mobile cancer screening. 

In 2022, the joint task force launched Eddy – “Early Detection Driven to You” – lung cancer screening on wheels. Equipped with specialized imaging equipment, Eddy is outfitted with the latest edition Philips Incisive CT, the only mobile unit of its kind in the country. 

Partnering with Philips, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center was able to deliver mobile CT scans done to their specifications. Says Jeff DiLullo, Executive Vice President and Chief Region Leader of Philips North America, “We did whatever we had to do to get this working. This is the kind of groundbreaking innovation that happens when public and private partnerships come together, extending diagnostic care and treatment to underserved communities.” Adds Dr. Mary Reid, Director of Cancer Screening and Survivorship at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, “We have broken the system to make this super easy for people coming onto the bus to get an appointment, to know if you're eligible, to work with your insurance, to get on the bus to be screened.” 

Meeting people where they live, work and pray

Access to care is a huge barrier to lung cancer screenings, leading to much higher mortality rates for underserved urban, rural and minority populations. This is particularly true in Buffalo, where higher poverty rates mean that people are not getting the care they need, are not being screened early enough and experience higher mortality rates as a result. According to Dr. Reid, “We needed to bring screening outside of institutions and hospitals and plunk it in the neighborhood where people get used to seeing it.” 

Says Bishop, “What's so important about not-for-profits, churches, mosques, synagogues, wherever it is that people choose to voluntarily go to – there is a trust factor there.” For him and so many others, Eddy is more than a mobile unit. It’s about offering critical and quality healthcare services so that people can make life-changing, life-saving decisions. 

Take Cecil Wilson, a veteran in his 70s, who learned about Eddy after hearing Bishop Pridgen speak about it at church. A smoker since he was 14 years old, and with limited transportation, Cecil tells us, “If this truck wasn't here, I probably wouldn't have got screened at all. I would recommend it to any veteran or non-vet if you've done a lot of smoking…that you need to come and have yourself checked out.”

Serving those who serve others 

In addition to reaching underserved populations, Eddy also provides screenings for local firefighters, who have a significantly higher risk of developing lung cancer because of their exposure to toxins such as asbestos, carbon monoxide and radon. Bringing Eddy to Buffalo’s firehouses not only increased lung screenings among local firefighters, it has given the program a foothold into the surrounding communities. 

The city of Buffalo currently has approximately 720 firefighters in the Buffalo Fire Department, with just under 500 on active duty. The Eddy mobile lung cancer screening unit gives these first responders an opportunity to assess the potential damage received in the course of duty and receive the necessary care to support better health outcomes. 

A painless and speedy procedure, Eddy has helped significantly increase lung screenings among Buffalo’s firefighters. Adds Chris Whelan, Trustee for Buffalo Firefighters Local 282, “I think our participation rate is close to 90%. It allows my members to see that this community cares about them and is going to take the extra steps…to keep them safe while they do a dangerous job.” 

Over time, this huge integrated effort seeks to see a shift from lung cancer being one of the deadliest forms of cancer to a condition that can be effectively detected and treated early with a much higher chance of survival.

Collaborating to ensure everyone has access to good care 

The fact remains that lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in both men and women, causing more deaths than colorectal cancer, pancreatic cancer and breast cancer combined. 

Based on compelling evidence from large national studies, the US Preventive Services Task Force recommends annual low-dose CT lung scans for people ages 50-80 years who have smoked for at least 20 years [3]. Earlier this year, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a national coverage determination (NCD) that expanded coverage for lung cancer screening to improve health outcomes for people with lung cancer [4].

Eddy brings these screenings directly into the community, making it possible for eligible individuals to get the care they need where and when they need it most, with a focus on reaching medically underserved and racially diverse populations. The mobile screenings will be offered initially in western New York, and soon will be traveling to high-need areas of central and upstate New York. 

In the future, Philips hopes to expand these efforts to more high-risk communities across the country – partnering with other leading organizations who share a deep commitment to ensuring access to care for all. Adds DiLullo, “Every life matters. Everybody deserves an opportunity to have that good care. Because of projects like Eddy, we break new ground in how we do that.” 

To learn more about Eddy and the Roswell Park Cancer Center, click here. 

To learn how to bring lung cancer detection with CT scan to your community contact: healthequity@philips.com