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NEWS
New Lung Cancer Screening Guidelines
Approved for Older Smokers
Visit Medical News Today for more information
Advancements and new developments in cancer research are happening every day to improve the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. For the latest information, the following websites are suggested:
Lung Cancer Screening FAQs
WHY IS LUNG CANCER DETECTION NEEDED?
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death for both men and women worldwide. Nearly 160,000 Americans die of lung cancer each year with an estimated 223,000 new cases diagnosed. The overall cure rate of lung cancer is approximately 12%, but the cure rate for Stage I (small nodule) cancers is 70-80%.
The goal of CT Lung Screening is to save lives. Without CT Lung Cancer Screening, lung cancer is usually not found until a person develops symptoms. At that time, the cancer is more difficult to treat.
Studies have shown that CT Lung Screening can lower the risk of death from lung cancer by 20 percent in people who are at high risk.
WHAT SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE SUPPORTS CT LUNG CANCER SCREENING?
On December 31, 2013, after years of discussion and evidence gathering, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) gave its final recommendation for annual screening with CT for individuals at risk for lung cancer. Based on the findings of the USPSTF, we know that CT Lung Cancer Screening can save lives of people at risk for developing lung cancer.
In the July 1999 Lancet Journal published a landmark scientific study (Early Lung Cancer Action Project) which demonstrated that CT can greatly improve the likelihood of discovering small potentially curable Stage 1 lung cancers in a high risk patient group (heavy tobacco users) when compared to chest x-ray. In this study, CT detected three times as many non-calcified pulmonary nodules as chest x-ray in the study group and CT detected six times as many Stage I cancers as chest x-rays. In addition, the malignant nodules detected on CT were significantly smaller than those detected on chest x-ray. This is very important because the smaller the tumor size the more likely it is a curable Stage 1 cancer.
WHAT IS A CT LUNG CANCER SCREENING?
Computerized Tomography (CT), also known as Computerized Axial Tomography (CAT Scan), is a painless diagnostic procedure using low amounts of radiation to generate a sequence of highly detailed images. A computer then takes these images and compiles them into complete cross-sectional images (“slices”) of the area of the body being scanned. CT is much more sensitive than chest x-ray in detecting small potentially curable lung cancers.
HOW OFTEN SHOULD I BE SCREENED FOR LUNG CANCER?
It is recommended that patients at high risk for lung cancer should consider undergoing a CT Lung Cancer Screening on an annual basis.
WHAT IS A CT LUNG CANCER SCREENING?
A “positive” result means one or more lung nodules have been detected. In this case, a patient may be asked to come back for additional exams. Just because a lung nodule is found does not mean that the patient has lung cancer.