Low-Dose CT Lung Screening: An Opportunity to Breathe Easier
Low-Dose CT Lung Screening: An Opportunity to Breathe Easier
One in 16 people can expect a lung cancer diagnosis in their lifetime. It is one of the deadliest forms of cancer, responsible for more deaths than breast, colorectal and prostate cancers combined. ¹
While smoking is the greatest risk factor for lung cancer, approximately 6 out of 10 people with lung cancer have never smoked or have quit smoking. Exposure to radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers.¹
Like with many cancers, the key to surviving lung cancer is to catch it early. Today, the best test to detect lung cancer early is a CT lung screening.
“When found by traditional means, the chances of surviving five years after a lung cancer diagnosis is only 10 percent,” says Dr. Heather Seymour, a lung screening expert at Eastern Radiologists. “But when smokers are screened with CT, the odds of surviving more than five years improve to 63 percent.”
For current and former smokers, or those who have risk factors for lung cancer (such as exposure to secondhand smoke or radon), a CT lung screening program is something you’ll want to discuss with your doctor. The screening is fast, easy and completely non-invasive. You simply lie on your back and hold your breath while the machine captures detailed images of your lungs in just a few minutes. It is called “low-dose” because the radiation exposure to those having this test is lower than a typical chest CT scan, thanks to a special screening protocol.
Besides lung cancer, this test is used to detect early signs of pulmonary function problems and obstructive disease, such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis. In addition, the CT lung screening can identify Pleural disease (e.g. asbestos exposure), damage caused by COVID-19 infection and other pulmonary problems.
In fact, CT screening of the lungs has been so much more effective than chest x-rays that the latter is no longer recommended. A clinical study funded by the National Institutes of Health demonstrated a 20% reduction in lung cancer mortality with low-dose CT compared with chest x-rays.
Most private insurance and Medicare now cover the test, so long as you have a shared decision-making visit with your doctor, and you fall within the following screening criteria provided by the American Cancer Society:
- Age 50-80 years
- Smoke or used to smoke
- Have at least a 20 pack-year history of smoking (a pack-year is the equivalent of smoking one pack of cigarettes per day for a year)
Others at risk may still have the test, but it may not be covered by their insurance. Fortunately, the cash price for this test is highly affordable.
“This test offers many the opportunity for early detection,” adds Dr. Seymour. “I recommend those at risk talk to their doctors about this important test that can save your life.”
References:
- Source: Lung Cancer Foundation of America
- Source: National Cancer Institute