Lung cancer screenings are recommended for people with certain risks

Lung cancer kills more people each year than breast, colon and prostate cancers combined. According to the American College of Radiology, screening certain groups of people for lung cancer has the potential to save more lives than any other cancer-screening test in history.

Research has shown that smoking is the most significant risk factor for lung cancer. Almost 90% of all lung cancer cases can be linked to smoking, and 80% of lung cancer deaths are due to smoking.

Older age also puts people at higher risk for the disease. Additional risk factors include exposure to toxins including radon and asbestos, radiation therapy, other lung diseases and family history. Health disparities and other factors have been linked to higher incidences of lung cancer among non-white populations.

When lung cancer is found early, there is greater potential for it to be more successfully treated. Medicare and most insurance plans cover annual lung cancer screenings for people at high-risk beginning at age 50.

A low-dose CT scan is recommended by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for those who:

• Are 50 to 77 years old.
• Have no signs or symptoms of lung cancer.
• Have a history of smoking one pack of cigarettes a day for 20 years or more.
• Are current smokers or quit smoking within the past 15 years.

The median age of diagnosis for lung cancer is 71. The median age of lung cancer deaths is 72.

"The majority of lung cancers are diagnosed at a late stage of the disease, after it has begun to spread and when it is more difficult to treat successfully," said David Roelke, MD, a radiologist at ProHealth Waukesha Memorial Hospital.

A lung cancer CT scan creates a series of detailed images of the lungs and bronchial system using a low dose of radiation. The high-resolution images show thin slices of the lung tissue.

Radiologists are trained to analyze CT images for the presence of nodules, or small abnormal areas of tissue.

"Not all nodules are cancerous. Nodules also can be caused by scar tissue or past infections," Dr. Roelke said.

A screening CT for lung cancer uses a lower dose of radiation than a conventional CT scan and does not require IV contrast. The scan is painless and non-invasive, and takes just a few minutes to perform.

If there is an area of concern on your CT scan, your radiologist will work with you to identify next steps based on the scan results, your health history and risk factors. In some cases, a repeat scan may be recommended.

If imaging indicates that the nodules have grown, your doctor may recommend a PET scan. A PET scan is an imaging test that uses radioactive sugar, injected into a vein, to help determine whether a mass could be cancerous. If a mass shows increased uptake of sugar, a biopsy may be ordered to definitively identify the presence of cancerous cells.

A lung biopsy is performed using a thin tube or a thin needle to obtain a tissue sample. The sample is checked for infection, scar tissue, cancer or other lung problems.

"If lung cancer is identified, cancer providers will meet with you to develop an individualized approach to care," Dr. Roelke said. "Your care plan will include the latest evidence-based options for treatment"

If you or a loved one is eligible for lung cancer screening, don’t hesitate to schedule one.

The lung cancer team at the UW Health Cancer Center at ProHealth Care works with patients to develop personalized treatment plans and offers clinical trials, which provide additional treatment options for qualified patients.