Lung Cancer Screening and Risk Reduction
Screening is the use of tests or exams to find a disease in people who don’t have symptoms. In recent years, a test known as a low-dose CT (LDCT) scan has been studied in people at higher risk of getting lung cancer (mainly because they smoke or used to smoke). LDCT scans can help find abnormal areas in the lungs that may be cancer.
The most recent version of the American Cancer Society (ACS) lung cancer screening guideline (from 2018) is being taken down while we review new scientific evidence to be included in the next update. While this important update is being completed, the ACS advises that health care providers, and people at increased risk for lung cancer, follow the recently updated recommendations for annual lung cancer screening from the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), or the American College of Chest Physicians. These organizations recommend yearly lung cancer screening with LDCT scans for people who:
- Are 50 to 80 years old and in fairly good health, and
- Currently smoke or have quit in the past 15 years, and
- Have at least a 20 pack-year smoking history. (This is the number of packs of cigarettes per day multiplied by the number of years smoked. For example, someone who smoked 2 packs a day for 10 years [2 x 10 = 20] has 20 pack-years of smoking, as does a person who smoked 1 pack a day for 20 years [1 x 20 = 20].)
In addition, it's important that people who are going to be screened:
- Receive counseling to quit smoking if they currently smoke, and
- Have been told by their doctor about the possible benefits, limits, and harms of screening with LDCT scans, and
- Can go to a center that has experience in lung cancer screening and treatment.
How to get screened for lung cancer
To request a screening for lung cancer, speak with your doctor about whether or not you are eligible. If you meet the high-risk criteria, your doctor will have a shared-decision making discussion with you to help decide if you want to do a lung cancer screening.
Lung cancer screening is a test that detects lung cancer in people who show no symptoms of the disease. Often, symptoms of cancer don’t appear until the disease has already spread. Yearly lung cancer screening can ensure peace of mind and can provide better chances of survival for those who find cancer when it is smaller and easier to treat.
During the screening, you undergo a low-dose computed tomography scan (CT scan). The CT scan is a type of X-ray used to image the current state of the lungs. It takes less than a minute and is designed to look for signs of lung cancer even before symptoms are present.
The Providence Imaging Center offers this type o screening and follows the best practices for quality, radiation dose and diagnostic procedures as developed by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network and the American College of Radiology (ACR).
- No smoking: Smoking is by far the leading risk factor for lung cancer. About 80% of lung cancer deaths are thought to result from smoking, and this number is probably even higher for small cell lung cancer. It’s very rare for someone who has never smoked to have small cell lung cancer. The risk of lung cancer for people who smoke is greater than for people who don't smoke. The longer you smoke and the more packs a day you smoke, the greater your risk.
- Avoid exposure to secondhand smoke: If you don’t smoke, breathing in the smoke of others can increase your risk of developing lung cancer. Secondhand smoke is the third most common cause of lung cancer in the US.
- Avoid exposure to radon: Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that results from the breakdown of uranium in soil and rocks. You can’t see, taste, or smell it. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in this country, and it's the leading cause among people who don't smoke. Outdoors, there is so little radon that it is not likely to be dangerous. But indoors, radon can be more concentrated. Breathing it in exposes your lungs to small amounts of radiation. This may increase a person’s risk of lung cancer.
- Avoid exposure to asbestos: People exposed to large amounts of asbestos also have a greater risk of developing mesothelioma, a type of cancer that starts in the pleura (the lining surrounding the lungs). In recent years, government regulations have greatly reduced the use of asbestos in commercial and industrial products. It’s still present in many homes and other older buildings, but it’s not usually considered harmful as long as it’s not released into the air by deterioration, demolition, or renovation.
Know the facts, risk factors, and cancer screening options. View and download educational material below.