Have You Been Screened for Lung Cancer? | Everyday Health

Lung cancer kills more men and women than any othertype of cancer. Detecting this disease in its early stages can lead to better survival. Screening, for those who qualify, is free, fast, and easy via alow-dose computed tomography (CT) scan.

So why do so few Americans actually get screened forlung cancer?

One 2016reportshowed that five years after government and private insurers started covering the cost of screening, less than 2 percent of eligible patients underwent CT screening.

In another 2019 study, published in theAmerican Journal of Preventive Medicine,researchers found that in the 10 states they analyzed, only 14 percent of qualified people had been screened in the past year.

“It’s one thing to have the screening tools available to you, but unless initiated, what good does it do you?” saysMichael Wert, MD, a pulmonary critical care physician at the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Who Is Eligible for Lung Cancer Screening?

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recently updated its guidelines to increase the number of people who are eligible for yearly screening with a low-dose CT scan.

The new recommendations for annual screening include adults between the ages of 50 and 80 who have a 20 pack-year smoking history and currently smoke or havequit smokingwithin the past 15 years

A “pack-year” means you’ve smoked a pack of cigarettes a day for a year, or an equivalent amount.

If you’re unsure whether you meet the criteria for screening, the American Lung Association (ALA) offers an online eligibilityquizthat could provide more clarity.

CT筛查的好处

A CT scan is a special type of exam that uses X-rays to create detailed images of structures inside your body. It can reveal very small nodules in the lungs and is especially useful fordiagnosing lung cancerin its earliest and most treatable stage.

Research shows that only about16 percentof lung cancers are diagnosed early, when the five-year survival rate is as high as 90 percent. Lung cancer becomes far less curable when diagnosed at a more advanced stage.

A landmark 2011studyfunded by the National Cancer Institute revealed that patients screened with low-doseCT scanswere at least20 percentless likely to die from lung cancer.

In another 2020 study, published inTheNew England Journal of Medicine,researchers found a significant reduction in lung cancer death rates among high-risk people who had CT screening.

The test is quick, painless, and requires little preparation.

“It’s a pretty easy screening process, unlike acolonoscopyprep, which is a procedure that’s much more uncomfortable,” says Dr. Wert. “You go in and talk to your provider, then get the scan of the lung. The whole process takes 10 minutes. You get the results the same day or the next day.”

If you qualify for a yearly CT screening test, your insurance company is required to cover the cost of the exam.

Why Are Lung Cancer Screening Rates So Low?

Experts aren’t exactly sure why qualified individuals aren’t getting screened for lung cancer.

Lack of awareness is one possible reason fewer people undergo CT scans for lung cancer. “For whatever reason, lungcancer screeningis not as ingrained in doctors’ minds and in patients’ minds as needing acolonoscopyor Pap smear or that kind of thing,” says Wert.

In fact, between 60 and 80 percent of people who are eligible for breast, cervical, or colon screenings get them — and these exams are considered much more unpleasant.

Some patients may also be fearful of receiving bad news or getting a false positive result that can lead to unnecessary procedures.

Access to healthcare facilities or transportation may be roadblocks for some, especially people who live in rural areas.

Additionally, some experts speculate that there’s a stigma associated with being tested for lung cancer that smokers may want to avoid.

How to Talk to Your Doctor About Lung Cancer Screening

If you’re concerned about your risk and have a history of smoking, don’t wait for symptoms to bring up the subject with your doctor.Lung cancer causessymptoms only in the later stages, and your best opportunity for survival, as with all cancers, is to catch it and have it treated early. Your doctor can help you discern whether you qualify for a scan and could benefit from one.

Your physician can also provide feedback about:

The pros and cons of having a scan
哪里有你的扫描吗
How to prepare for your test
What your results might mean
The cost (if it’s not covered)

“What I tell people is if you even think you might be a candidate for screening, even if you’re not sure, the worst thing that happens is you reach out to your provider, and they say you don’t qualify,” says Wert.

It’s especially important to talk with your doctor if you’re a heavy smoker, have a strong family history of lung cancer, or have other risk factors.

Some questions you may want to ask your physician include:

我的肺的风险可以cer?
Do you recommend that I get screened for lung cancer? Why?
How often will I need to get screened?
How do I prepare for a lung cancer screening?
Are there risks or side effects associated with screening?
How long will it take to get my results?
If the test shows I have cancer, what will happen next?
What can I do to lower my risk for lung cancer?

The American Lung Association offers a free doctor conversationguidethat you can bring with you to your visit. “Early detection is key,” says Wert. “It beats the alternative.”