Screening for Lung Cancer Helps Save Lives
Early detection makes cancer easier to treat
Early detection makes cancer easier to treat
Lung cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in the United States and the deadliest.
The good news is that the number of new cases continues to decrease. This is partly because fewer people are smoking, which is the main risk factor. However, more needs to be done to improve early detection and increase survival rates.
“We need more at-risk people to get screened for lung cancer,” says Samir Makani, MD, an interventional pulmonologist at Scripps Cancer Center. “Lung cancer often has no symptoms until it spreads, making it harder to treat. This is why early detection through screening is so important.”
“Currently, only about 20 percent of patients are diagnosed at an early stage when treatments can be most effective. Screenings can greatly increase this number,” says Dr. Makani. “When we wait for symptoms to appear, lung cancer is often found at an advanced stage and is harder to treat.”
Scripps lung cancer screening program
To improve early detection for people who are at increased risk for developing lung cancer, Scripps launched a comprehensive, multidisciplinary lung cancer screening program in 2022. Dr. Makani is the medical director of the Jana Oliphant Hackett Lung Cancer Screening Program. The program is for patients who meet the guidelines for annual lung cancer screening.
Patients in the Scripps program can get low radiation CT scans of their lungs. These scans help find lung cancer early. They also get support to quit smoking if needed.
Patients diagnosed with an abnormality will have access to a team of specialists, including radiologists, pulmonologists and thoracic surgeons.
Who’s at risk?
According to the American Cancer Society, 1 in 16 men and 1 in 17 women will get lung cancer in their lifetime. Lung cancer mainly affects older adults. About 80% of lung cancer deaths are linked to tobacco use. This includes cigarettes, “low-tar” and menthol cigarettes, cigars and pipes.
The United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) updated its lung cancer screening guidelines in 2021. It now recommends screening for adults aged 50 and older who are at risk. People at risk include those who smoke or have smoked for 20 years, at least one pack a day.
The lung screening program at Scripps addresses a significant unmet need to get more people screened with low-dose CT scans. Less than 10% of patients who were eligible for lung cancer screening under the previous USPSTF guidelines were screened in the U.S. in 2018.
“We are working with our primary care doctors to raise awareness about this program. We want to help more at-risk patients get access to life-saving screenings,” Dr. Makani says.
Smoking and exposure
It is important to screen people who have smoked for a long time. However, lung cancer can also occur in nonsmokers, especially exposure to secondhand smoke. Secondhand smoke is the third most common cause of lung cancer in the U.S.
Lung cancer in nonsmokers is more common in women. It often develops at an earlier age than lung cancer in smokers.
Other risk factors
Chemicals in the environment can also cause disease, including exposure to:
- Radon, the second leading cause of lung cancer, especially in nonsmokers
- Asbestos
- Carcinogens in the workplace
- Air pollution
- Radiation therapy to the lungs
- Personal history and family history
If you think you might qualify for lung cancer screening, contact your primary care doctor for a referral. Medicare and many private health insurance plans cover lung cancer screening. Your doctor’s office can help you find out if your insurance will pay for the scans.
Watch the San Diego Health video with Dr. Makani discussing the importance of early detection of lung cancer through screening.