Who Benefits From Annual Lung Cancer Screening?
- About 70 to 80% of people with lung cancer are diagnosed after the cancer has already spread outside their lung and is harder to treat.
- Low-dose computed tomography (CT) scans are imaging tests that can detect lung cancer at an early stage.
- Research shows these tests can reduce lung cancer deaths.
- Yearly CT scans are recommended for current and former heavy smokers, ages 55 to 80.
“In about 70 to 80% of patients who are diagnosed with lung cancer, unfortunately the cancer has spread outside of the lung and is not suitable for surgery,” Dr. Patrick Forde, thoracic oncologist at Johns Hopkins Medicine, tells SurvivorNet.
CT Screening Saves Lives
Read MoreDr. Ronald Natale, medical oncologist at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, on how lung cancer differs in smokers vs. non-smokers
“[The CT scans] were able to pick [up the cancer] at an earlier stage and potentially cure them at a higher rate than not doing screening,” Dr. Forde says.
Should You Get a CT Scan?
That depends on your age and your smoking history. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) — an independent expert panel that makes evidence-based recommendations about screenings and other preventive services — recommends yearly low-dose CT scans for people who:
- Are between 55 and 80 years old
- Have a history of heavy smoking, and
- Smoke now or have quit within the past 15 years
Related: In Diagnosing Lung Cancer, the Symptoms Often Come Late
Heavy smoking means that you’ve smoked 30 pack years or more. That’s the equivalent of smoking one pack of cigarettes a day for 30 years, or two packs a day for 15 years.
Too Few People Are Getting Screened
CT scans can save lives, but only if those who are at risk for lung cancer actually get this test. The State of Lung Cancer 2020 report from the American Lung Association found that screening every currently eligible person would save close to 48,000 lives, but only about 6% of Americans who are at high risk are getting screened.
The lack of screening programs is one factor that may keep many people from having the test they need, says Dr. Forde. Insurance is another potential barrier. Though Medicare and many private health insurance companies should cover the cost of CT screening for people who meet the USPSTF’s guidelines, those who are uninsured may not get tested. “The concern is perhaps patients who are on Medicaid or don’t have insurance will not be referred for appropriate screening,” he says.
How to diagnose lung cancer without invasive tests
“I think it behooves us all to try and increase the uptake of CT screening in particular, given that it’s been shown to reduce lung cancer mortality,” Dr. Forde adds. If you are a longtime smoker between the ages of 55 and 80, ask your primary care doctor if you qualify for low-dose CT screening, and how to get this test.
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