Are You A Candidate For Lung Cancer Screening?

Many people are familiar with various types of cancer screening, such as mammograms to check for breast cancer and colonoscopies to diagnose colon cancer. But there is also a test to screen for lung cancer, which may help diagnose the condition at an early stage.

How Is Lung Cancer Screening Performed?

Lung cancer screening is not the same thing as performing a biopsy to determine if cancer is present. A lung biopsy is not done until a person presents with lung cancer symptoms. In many instances, the biopsy involves inserting a needle through the chest to remove a small amount of lung tissue. The tissue sample is analyzed to check for the presence of cancer cells.

It is also performed differently than a lung biopsy.  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, low dose computed tomography is the only recommended screening for lung cancer.

Low dose computed tomography (CT) uses low levels of radiation to create images of the body. The technology allows the machine to scan the body in a spiral manner, which makes the pictures detailed. Very small tumors or changes in lung tissue may be found before they cause symptoms.

In the past, chest x-rays and analysis of sputum from the lungs may have been performed. But the American Lung Association does not recommend either sputum analysis or a chest x-ray to screen for lung cancer. Neither test has proven to be an effective screening tool to reduce lung cancer deaths.

Should You Have A Lung Cancer Screening?

According to the American Lung Association (ALA), lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in women and men. Lung cancer tends to have a poorer prognosis than other types of cancer. Although life expectancy after a lung cancer diagnosis varies based on several factors, the five-year survival rate is currently about 15 percent, according to the ALA. 

By the time these symptoms appear, lung cancer may be advanced. Lung cancer screening may provide detection of the disease at an early stage, but is not recommended for everyone.

The American Lung Association along with the American Cancer Society recommends people who meet certain criteria undergo lung cancer screening. Recommendations include patients who are between the ages of 55 and 74 and have a smoking history of about a pack a day for 30 or more years. Patients should also either be current smokers or quit within the previous 15 years.

See Also: Is Air Pollution Now a Leading Cause of Lung Cancer?

The specific recommendations above were developed after clinical trials were conducted to determine what population of people would benefit from lung cancer screening involving a CT scan.  The largest clinical trial conducted involved about 50,000 people who were current or former smokers between age of 55 and 74. The trials concluded there was a 20 percent reduction in lung cancer deaths in people who were diagnosed through screening using computerized tomography.   

Screening May Reduce Lung Cancer Deaths

Although more research is needed, it appears lung cancer screening via CT scan may reduce cancer deaths in certain populations. But as with many diagnostic tests, the risks and benefits must be weighed. 

Risks And Complications Of Lung Cancer Screening

Computerized tomography scans have been in use for decades. They are considered safe, but they do involve low levels of radiation exposure. In many cases, the level of radiation a person is exposed to during a lung screening is not considered dangerous.

According to the American Cancer Society, one downside to lung cancer screening is false positive results can occur. This means the CT detects an abnormality, but it turns out not to be cancer.

Although that is great news, the initial positive finding often leads to additional lung cancer testing. More invasive tests, such as a needle biopsy or surgery to have a section of the lung removed may be performed. Many times the more invasive the procedure, the higher the risk of complications. Patients who have a false positive lung cancer screening may undergo invasive tests that they did not need. 

People considering lung cancer screening should also be aware the opposite can happen. Lung cancer may be present, and the CT scan can miss it. This may create a false sense of security. In addition, it is important to keep in mind, a negative CT scan does not mean cancer is definitely not present. It just means it was not detected on the scan.

Screening Results: Now What?

If you and your doctor decide you are an appropriate candidate for lung cancer screening, waiting for the results may be nerve-wracking. After undergoing a CT scan for lung cancer screening, a radiologist will review the results and interpret the findings. The results are then sent to your doctor.

Most medical facilities use electronic medical records, which can speed up the process. There is not an exact time in which test results will be ready. Speak to your doctor before the scan to get an idea of how long you will wait to learn your results.

Once the results are available, your doctor will either call you or schedule an appointment in person to review the findings. If your scan results are negative and do not indicate cancer is present, your doctor will let you know if you should undergo a scan again in the future.

Once further testing is completed, your doctor will meet with you to review all results. If lung cancer is confirmed, treatment options will be discussed.

Treatment for lung cancer depends on the stage of the disease, age of the patient and underlying health problems present. Although it may not always be the case, lung cancer found through CT screening may be at an early stage.

See Also: What A Lung Cancer Survivor Can Teach Us About Lung Cancer Survival

Your doctor will likely refer you to an oncologist who will provide you with treatment options and recommendations. Surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy may be used to treat lung cancer.  In some instances, all three types of treatments are used.