According to the American Cancer Society, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the U.S. When to begin preventative cancer screenings often depends on many factors, such as medical history, age, and individual risk factors.
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What Is Lung Cancer Screening?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a lung cancer screening is when you receive a preventative medical scan of your lungs to check for signs of lung cancer.
What Is a Preventative Scan?
A preventative scan is a health scan to check for early signs of diseases when they are the most treatable. For example, a preventative health scan of the lungs would be a CT scan of the lungs to check for early signs of lung cancer when symptoms are not present.
What Are the Types of Tests Used for Lung Cancer Screening?
According to the National Cancer Institute, three different lung cancer screening tests have been studied:
- Low-dose computed tomography (CT scan)
- Chest X-ray
- Sputum cytology
The results of the studies showed that only low-dose CT scans reduced the chance of dying from lung cancer.
At What Age Should You Be Screened for Lung Cancer?
According to the American Cancer Society, the recommended age for a lung cancer screening is between 45 and 80 years old. Those 45 and older should begin getting an annual lung cancer scan to check for early signs of lung cancer if they meet both of the following criteria:
- If you’re currently a smoker or have smoked in the past
- Have a 20-pack-year smoking history
What Is a 20-Pack-Year Smoking History?
A “pack-year” is when a person smokes a whole pack of cigarettes per day for a whole year. So, a “20-year-pack year” would be if you have smoked a pack of cigarettes every day for 20 years or two packs a day for 10 years.
What Are the Benefits of Getting Screened Early for Lung Cancer?
Getting a lung scan to receive the benefits of lung cancer screening include:
- A non-invasive way to evaluate your lung health
- If you’re at risk, an initial scan gives your doctor something to compare future scans to
- You may catch lung cancer when it’s the most treatable
Why Is Early Detection of Lung Cancer Important?
According to the Mayo Clinic, by the time lung cancer starts displaying symptoms, it’s usually too late for curative treatments. This is why the importance of early lung cancer detection with CT scans cannot be understated. For those in good health but at risk for lung cancer, finding lung cancer in its earlier stages provides better outcomes.
What Symptoms Might Indicate a Need for Immediate Lung Cancer Testing?
According to the American Cancer Society, the majority of lung cancer symptoms are more likely to not be lung cancer. However, it is always best to discuss lung cancer testing with your doctor if you’re experiencing the following symptoms:
- A persistent cough that isn’t going away
- Blood or rust-colored fluid comes up when you cough
- Pain in the chest that is exacerbated by coughing, laughing, or taking a deep breath
- A raspy voice
- Fatigue and weakness
- Repeated infections in your lungs
- Sudden unexplained wheezing
- Decrease in appetite
- Weight loss
What Are the Risk Factors That Indicate a Need for Early Screening?
According to the Mayo Clinic, you should discuss early lung cancer screenings with your doctor if you have one or more of the following risk factors:
- You’re 45 or older and currently smoke
- You were a smoker with a 20-year-pack history (even if you have since quit)
- If you’ve ever been treated for lung cancer
- If you have other serious risk factors, such as a family history of lung cancer or a lung condition, such as COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
- If you have been exposed to cancer-causing substances, such as asbestos, high levels of radon, etc.
Can Non-Smokers Benefit From Lung Cancer Screening?
According to the CDC, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force doesn’t recommend lung cancer screenings for those who have never smoked. However, somewhere between 10% to 20% of lung cancer cases occur in people who have never smoked or smoked fewer than 100 cigarettes in their lifetime. Therefore, it’s worth discussing any risk factors you may have for lung cancer with your doctor to discuss the pros and cons of cancer screenings.
Are There Any Risks or Downsides to Lung Cancer Screenings?
According to the CDC, the possible downsides of medical imaging for lung cancer screenings can include:
- A false positive result: There could potentially be a spot on your lungs that appears as if it might be cancer but isn’t. This could risk undergoing more procedures that aren’t necessary. The Mayo Clinic recommends avoiding being scanned while you have a respiratory infection to reduce this risk.
- Overdiagnosis: Some cancers are so slow-growing that they may never cause a problem, which means that finding them may lead to unnecessary treatment.
- Radiation exposure: Repeating scans that may not be needed increases your radiation exposure, which can increase your overall risk of cancer.
Are There Other Preventative Scans I Should Be Getting?
According to the Cleveland Clinic, patients should be aware of their risk factors for all preventable diseases. Like lung scans, other types of scans can help you better assess your risk and help you make decisions that provide superior health outcomes.
Everyone should consider discussing the following preventative health scans with their doctors:
Virtual Colonoscopy
According to the American Cancer Society, screening for colorectal cancer should start at the age of 45 to check for early signs of colorectal cancer. A virtual colonoscopy is a non-invasive alternative to a traditional colonoscopy that can detect if you have colon polyps that need to be removed to prevent colon cancer.
Heart Scan
A heart scan with a coronary calcium score test can detect plaque build-up and how much plaque is present in your arteries, indicating what your risk is for heart disease and/or having a heart attack.
Bone Density Scan
The CDC recommends that women 65 or older receive a bone density scan to check for early signs of osteoporosis.
Being well-informed through regular health screenings and discussing your personal health, lifestyle, and risk factors with your doctor can help you make the best decisions about your health. If you’re looking for a preventative medical scan in Las Vegas, check out Preventative Diagnostic Center.
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Sources:
American Cancer Society Guideline for Colorectal Cancer Screening. (2024).
Can Lung Cancer Be Found Early? (2024).
Facts About Bone Density (DEXA Scan). (2024).
Lung Cancer Among People Who Never Smoked. (2024).
Lung cancer screening. (2024).
Lung Cancer Screening (PDQ®)–Patient Version. (2024).
Prophylaxis/Preventive Care. (2024).
Screening for Lung Cancer. (2024).
Signs and Symptoms of Lung Cancer. (2024).
