Lung Cancer Screening

You probably know about screening tests for breast cancer, colon cancer, and others. But did you know there’s also a screening test for lung cancer? It’s called a low-dose computed tomography (CT) scan and it’s used to find abnormal areas in the lungs that may be cancer.1

Many current and former smokers over age 50 are eligible to receive an annual low-dose CT (LDCT) screening test. LDCT screening can help doctors diagnose lung cancer at an early stage, when it is more likely to be curable.2

Illustration of lungs

Why lung cancer screening matters

People with early-stage lung cancer usually don’t notice any symptoms. That’s one reason about 75% of lung cancers are diagnosed at later stages, after it has spread.3 Surviving lung cancer is much more likely when it is diagnosed and treated when it is small and localized. That’s why studies show yearly low-dose CT (LDCT) lung cancer screening saves lives.4

Recommendation
LDCT screening is now recommended for people ages 50 to 80 with a 20 pack-year smoking history who currently smoke or quit within the past 15 years.5

A pack year is a way to measure how much you’ve smoked. One pack year means that you smoked a pack of cigarettes a day for one year. To figure out your pack-year history, multiply the number of packs you smoked a day by the numbers of years you smoked. Examples:

Illustration of one pack of cigarettes

One pack a day for 20 years is 20 pack years

(1 pack x 20 years = 20 pack years)
Illustration of a half pack of cigarettes

A half pack a day for 40 years is 20 pack years

(.5 packs x 40 years = 20 pack years)
Illustration of one and a half packs of cigarettes

One and a half packs a day for 15 years is 22.5 pack years

(1.5 packs x 15 years = 22.5 pack years)

What is low-dose CT screening?

It’s a simple, painless imaging test that takes less than five minutes. During the test, you lie on a flat table that moves through a large donut-shaped hole. Within the donut, a scanner spins around taking multiple images as you move through. A computer processes the images to create a detailed look at the inside of your lungs. You can learn more about CT imaging in the video “How Does a CT Scan Work?”

The CT scan results show if you have any lung nodules, which are abnormal growths that could be lung cancer. While most lung nodules are benign (not cancer), you have options if your screening test shows a concerning nodule. All About Lung Nodules offers information about possible next steps you can discuss with your doctor.

 

Illustration of doctors discussing a lung scan

Are there any risks with lung cancer screening?
You’ll be exposed to a small amount of radiation during the test. A low-dose CT scan uses 25% of the radiation of a regular chest CT scan.6

Because CT scans are not invasive, there’s no risk of complications from the test itself. There is a risk of a false positive or false negative result. False negative results are uncommon.7 They occur when a lung cancer nodule is missed or misclassified as benign (not cancer).

False positive results are more common because CT images show any lung nodules, not just nodules that contain cancer cells. And lung nodules are common. One or more lung nodules will show up on images in about half of adults who have a chest CT. Of those nodules, about 95% are not cancer.8

Your doctor can help you decide if the benefits of lung cancer screening outweigh the risks.

After you decide lung cancer screening is right for you
The first step is to talk to your doctor. Your doctor can help determine if you meet the eligibility requirements and discuss the pros and cons of testing based on your age, health, and risk of developing lung cancer. If you decide to get the scan, your doctor will refer you to a scanning location.

Medicare and most private insurance plans cover LDCT screening with no cost sharing for people who fit into the plans’ guidelines for testing. To be sure you’re covered, check with your health insurance provider.

Learn more about lung cancer screening
The American Lung Association website’s Saved by the Scan section and Lung Cancer Screening and Surgery page have more information about screening. You can also take a short quiz to see if you qualify for screening.

Your care journey

 

    1. Can Lung Cancer Be Found Early? American Cancer Society. Web. Accessed May 3, 2024
    2. Saved by the Scan. American Lung Association. Web. Accessed May 3, 2024
    3. Lung and Bronchus Cancer. Stage Distribution of SEER Incidence Cases, 2012–2021 . SEER. National Cancer Institute. Accessed May 3, 2024.
    4. Lancaster HL, Heuvelmans MA, Oudkerk M. Low-dose computed tomography lung cancer screening: Clinical evidence and implementation research. J Intern Med. 2022;292(1):68-80.doi:10.1111/joim.13480
    5. Is Lung Cancer Screening Right for Me? American Lung Association. Web. Accessed July 1, 2024
    6. Radiation Dose. Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) and the American College of Radiology (ACR). Web. Accessed May 6, 2024
    7. Bartlett EC, Silva M, Callister ME, Devaraj A. False-Negative Results in Lung Cancer Screening-Evidence and Controversies. J Thorac Oncol. 2021;16(6):912-921. doi:10.1016/j.jtho.2021.01.1607
    8. Pulmonary Nodules. JAMA Patient Page. Walter K. Pulmonary Nodules. JAMA. 2021;326(15):1544.doi:10.1001/jama.2021.12319

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