Lung Cancer: Don’t Wait Until Symptoms Occur

Only about 14 percent of all new cancers are lung cancers, but it is overwhelmingly the leading cause of cancer deaths among both men and women. Each year, more Americans die from lung cancer than from colon, breast, and prostate cancers combined.

The Importance of Early Detection

While the outlook for those diagnosed with lung cancer is very serious, early detection is key to treating this disease. Symptoms generally only appear once lung cancer is already in an advanced stage. However, modern early detection methods have made it far easier to detect lung cancer in its earliest stages.

Screening Tests for Lung Cancer

The currently recommended screening test for lung cancer is low-dose computed tomography (low-dose CT scan, or LDCT). It is proven to be more effective than chest x-rays in detecting lung abnormalities. According to a large national trial of this screening process, at-risk patients who received LDCT screening had a 20 percent lower chance of dying from lung cancer than those who did not receive the screening.

Who Should Get Screened

The American Cancer Society and the U.S. Preventive Task Force recommend yearly lung cancer screening with LDCT for people who meet all of the following criteria:

• You have a history of heavy smoking.

• You smoke now or have quit within the past 15 years.

• You are between 55 and 80 years old.

While many people who get lung cancer have never smoked or have quit smoking earlier than 15 years ago, the factors above indicate a risk significant enough for yearly screening. Talk to your doctor for more information about your risk of developing lung cancer.

Through innovations in treatment, even those diagnosed with advanced stages of lung cancer have a much better likelihood of survival than ever before. With early detection, lung cancer patients have an even greater chance of remission. If you’re at risk, why wait? Make an appointment with a pulmonologist at Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Group to see if you’re eligible for a lung cancer screening today.

Sources:

CDC - Lung Cancer

LCFA - Is early diagnosis important?

ACS - Can Lung Cancer Be Found Early?

ACS - Key Statistics for Lung Cancer