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Lung cancer screenings can be a valuable tool for people who are at a higher risk of developing lung cancer. These screenings can help detect lung cancer at an early stage before it causes visible symptoms and becomes more difficult to treat.
It is estimated that an average of
In the United States, the 5-year survival rate for lung cancer is
Not everyone needs or should be screened regularly. If you’re not at high risk for lung cancer, screenings can do more harm than good.
In this article, we’ll take a look at who needs to be screened and how often. We’ll also highlight specific risk factors that might increase your risk for lung cancer.
Screening for lung cancer is not as common or routine as other screening tests such as mammograms for breast cancer or colonoscopies for colon cancer.
Researchers have been debating since
During the 1960s and 1970s, a
However, the researchers found that screening led to a decrease in the number of cancer deaths in heavy smokers and people with a history of heavy smoking.
The researchers also found that screening with a machine called a low-dose CT scan resulted in a 20% reduction in cancer deaths compared to screening with x-rays.
USPSTF screening recommendation
The United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends annual lung cancer screening with low-dose CT scans for people:
- who are between 50 and 80 years old
- and have a history of heavy smoking
- and currently smoke or have quit within 15 years
Excessive smoking is defined as having at least a 20 pack-year smoking history.
One pack year means that you smoke on average one pack per day for 1 year. For example, a 20-year-old pack will smoke one pack per day for 20 years.
American Cancer Society screening recommendation
The American Cancer Society guidelines are similar to those of the USPSTF, except that they recommend screening for people aged 55 to 74 instead of 50 to 80.
In addition, you must:
- to be healthy enough
- have received advice on how to quit smoking if you currently smoke
- were made aware of the advantages, limitations and disadvantages of low dose CT scans
According to
During your screening, you will lie on a table that slides in and out of the low dose CT scanner. The scanner uses a special type of x-ray to capture many images of your lungs.
A computer inside the scanner will then pull these images together to create a detailed picture of your lungs.
The procedure is quick and painless and only takes a few minutes.
If your scan shows some type of abnormality, your doctor will likely want to do other tests to determine if you have lung cancer.
These tests may include a PET or biopsy. These two tests can give your doctor more information about the abnormal cells and whether they are cancerous.
Even if your screening appears normal, you will need to repeat the screening every year if you are in a high risk category for lung cancer.
Getting regular lung cancer screenings can increase the chances of finding lung cancer at an early stage. The chances of surviving lung cancer improve dramatically if you catch it before it spreads from where it originated into your lungs.
Lung cancer screenings can also help detect other lung problems that may not be easily diagnosed by other means.
Screening for lung cancer carries some potential risks. For example:
- Lung cancer screening tests can provide a false positive. A false positive means the test finds you have cancer when you don’t. This can lead to unnecessary tests and surgeries which can present additional risks.
- The screening test can overdiagnose cancer. This means that cancer cases can be detected that potentially would not have become a problem. If the cancer is
slow growth or if you have other serious health conditions, being diagnosed with lung cancer can lead to unnecessary treatment that can cause damage. - Screening for lung cancer exposes your body to radiation. Repeated exposure to radiation from a low dose CT scanner may increase your risk of lung cancer.
Lung cancer usually does not have visible symptoms in the early stages. In fact, only about
If lung cancer produces symptoms at an early stage, these symptoms can include:
If you haven’t smoked in the past 15 years and you’re not between 55 and 80, you probably don’t need to be screened for lung cancer.
The
- are over 81 years old
- have another serious life-threatening medical condition that may make it difficult for them to have surgery for lung cancer
If you have any questions about the suitability of screening for lung cancer, ask your doctor for advice.
Lung cancer screening is a valuable tool that can help detect lung cancer at an early stage, when it is easiest to treat. People at high risk for lung cancer should be screened once a year.
If you are not at high risk of developing lung cancer, regular screenings are generally not recommended because they can do more harm than good.
If you are unsure whether you should be screened, your doctor can help you decide if lung cancer screening is right for you.
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