Lung Cancer Screening

What is lung cancer?

Lung cancer occurs when cells in the lung grow uncontrollably. Lung cancers fall under two types, small cell, or non-small cell cancer. These two types of lung cancers are differentiated by the way they grow.

Who is at risk?

Lung cancer prevalence is rather even in both men and women. Most people are diagnosed with lung cancer at the age of 65+ years, however some people can be diagnosed before the age of 45.

What are the associated risk factors?

Research has shown that there are plenty of non-genetic risk factors that could influence the development of lung cancer in patients, this includes:

• Smoking or second-hand smoke

• Exposure to radon or asbestos

• Arsenic in drinking water

There are also other factors such as family history of lung cancer that cannot be changed

What are the benefits of getting screened?

Lung Cancer screening serves as a tool to help prevent development of cancer to a point where it has spread too much and it is too late for the patient.

How is lung cancer screened?

Low-dose CT scans have been commonly used in at risk patients (current or ex-smokers) to screen for lung cancer. The scan can demonstrate any regions of the lung that may appear abnormal and give doctors possible hints to cancer development. These have been shown to help prevent prolonged lung cancer development in patients more effectively than chest x-rays.

What are the current screening recommendations?

The recommendations for screening change based on the age of the patient

• Adults aged 55-74 years who smoke or quit less than 15 years ago and have minimum a 30 pack-year history are recommended to get screened via LDCT annually

• Adults of any other age are not recommended to get screened for lung cancer with LDCT

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