Getting screened for lung cancer might just save your life

Lung cancer is the third most diagnosed cancer after breast and prostate cancers. Now, just like those cancers, screenings are making a difference in earlier diagnosis so people can get treatment sooner.

Lung cancer screening uses low-dose computed tomography (CT) scans of the lungs to spot any abnormalities that might indicate cancer. Lung cancer doesn't typically cause noticeable symptoms in its earliest stages – when the odds of recovery are highest. So, these screenings are critical.

"Statistically, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the U.S. It kills more people than prostate, colon and breast cancer combined," says Dr. Raffaele J. Marchigiani, a thoracic surgeon at Sentara Surgery Specialists - Leigh. "The key here is the screening. Catching it early can mean a much better chance at a cure."

Screening saves lives

The lives saved by lung cancer screenings are encouraging. But the latest Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stats show that about three-quarters of people diagnosed with lung cancer will die within five years.

This alarming rate is due in large part to the fact that lung cancer often isn't detected until it's in an advanced stage, at which point it's much harder to treat.

Despite its ability to detect lung cancer early, only 4.5% of high-risk Americans get screened for it each year, says the American Lung Association. A lack of awareness about the benefits of screening and a tendency for people to be afraid of the results contribute to its lower usage.

"Some of it is fear-based, some of it is apathy, some of it is that feeling of 'it's not going to happen to me,'" says Dr. Marchigiani. "It's simple and painless. It's a 30-second CT scan. You're in and out within 30 minutes."

Who should get screened?

The overwhelming majority of lung cancer cases – 80% to 90%, according to the ALA – are attributed to smoking tobacco. Lung cancer is also much more prevalent in people over the age of 50. With this in mind, screening guidelines focus on testing older adults who have a long history of smoking.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), an independent panel of experts that reviews evidence and makes recommendations for preventive healthcare service, recommends annual lung cancer screening for people who:

• Are ages 50 to 80 years
• Have a 20-pack-year smoking history
• Currently, smoke cigarettes or quit within the past 15 years

Cigarettes are the most common format for smoking tobacco, so doctors have developed the term "pack-year" as a way of quantifying the intensity and duration of a smoking habit. One pack-year is the equivalent of smoking one pack of cigarettes per day for one year. A 20-pack-year history means you could have smoked a pack per day for 20 years, or two packs a day for 10 years, or even four packs per day for five years.

For those who smoke other forms of tobacco, such as cigars or pipes, or if you're not sure if you meet the 20-pack-year minimum, it doesn't necessarily mean you shouldn't be screened. Talk to your doctor about your options.

Stop cancer before it even starts

Screening is an essential tool in the fight against lung cancer, but there is plenty you can do to lower your odds of getting cancer in the first place. The most important one? Quit smoking. While quitting can be difficult, it's one of the best things you can do for your health.

"If you want to reduce your risk, then stay away from tobacco," says Marchigiani. "The risk of cancer doesn't go away immediately, but your lung health is going to improve, your breathing will get better, and your lungs will be healthier."

You and those around you will benefit when you quit smoking. Secondhand tobacco smoke also increases the risk of developing lung cancer and possibly other cancers as well. When you quit smoking, you clear the air for everyone around you, not just yourself.

And while there has been far less research done on vaping and marijuana smoking, Marchigiani warns that inhaling any smoke or hot vapor into your lungs isn't doing them any favors.

"Even without the same carcinogens that are present in cigarettes, you're still causing damage inside your lungs when you smoke marijuana or vape," says Dr. Marchigiani. "More damage means increasing turnover of lung cells, which in turn increases the chance that something goes wrong, and the cell becomes cancerous."

Lung cancer and genetics

While a history of heavy smoking is the primary criterion for screening, lung cancer also has a genetic component. Those with a family history of lung cancer are at higher risk of developing it themselves. Genetic testing can help you to determine if you are genetically predisposed to getting lung cancer.

Other potential factors include exposure to asbestos, cancer-causing chemicals like diesel exhaust fumes or arsenic, air pollution and radon gas. Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that seeps up from the ground. Long exposure to high radon levels increases lung cancer risk.

Radon is colorless and odorless. So, the EPA and surgeon general recommend testing all houses below the third floor. Testing kits are inexpensive, and if radon levels are too high, you can take affordable measures to lower them.

Since lung cancer rarely causes symptoms in its earliest stages, it's important to discuss your risk factors and screening options with your doctor. The sooner it’s discovered, the more effective the treatment.

 

Early detection saves lives. Talk to your doctor about scheduling an appointment for lung cancer screening.