Should You Get Screened for Lung Cancer?

11/27/2023

BENTONVILLE, Ark. (Nov. 27, 2023) – Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death in the U.S., and in 2023 an estimated 127,000 people will lose their lives to the disease, according to the American Cancer Society. However, the number of people being screened for lung cancer falls far behind those screened for breast or colon cancers.

This is a dangerous oversight if you are, or have been, a heavy smoker. Screening is looking for cancer before you have any symptoms, which can help find cancer at an early stage when it may be easier to treat.

“Patients whose lung cancer is detected in the earliest stage have a much better chance of survival,” said Dr. Jason Bailey, pulmonologist at Northwest Pulmonology – Bentonville. “Conversely, survival rates for lung cancer are quite low when it’s diagnosed in the later stages of the disease. Through CT screening, we can catch the tumor early and offer the patient more treatment options, and more time for those treatments to work.”

According to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, annual screening with low-dose computed tomography (CT scan) is recommended for those who are:

• Adults ages 50- 80 years, and
• Have a “20 pack-year smoking history” and
  • currently smoke, or
  • have quit within the past 15 years

A “20 pack-year smoking history” means you’ve smoked an average of:

• One pack per day for 20 years, or
• One-and-a-half packs of cigarettes a day for 13 years, or
• Two packs per day for 10 years, or
• Half a pack of cigarettes a day for 40 years

A low-dose CT scan uses an X-ray machine to scan the body with low doses of radiation to make detailed pictures of the lungs. If you or a loved one meets the guidelines above, you should speak to your doctor about a screening plan. Lung cancer frequently has no symptoms at all in the early stages, contributing to the higher mortality rate.

To find a doctor who can help you learn more about your risk for lung cancer and need for screening, visit NW-Physicians.com/pulmonology or call (833) 757-9355 to find a physician near you.

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