Lung cancer is the leading cause of all cancer deaths in the United States. Research has found that high risk people who get low-dose CT scans of the chest had a 20% lower chance of dying from lung cancer than those who got only chest X-rays.
Lung cancer is more likely to be successfully treated when found at an earlier stage when it is small and before it has spread to other areas.
Who should get screened? Here are the screening criteria:
- 50 to 77 years old and in fairly good health
- Currently smoking or have quit within the past 15 years
- Have at least a 20-pack-year smoking history (number of years you smoked x average number of packs per day equals pack years.)
Lung cancer screening is covered by Medicare and many private health insurance plans. Screening involves in initial visit sitting face-to-face with a provider talking about the rationale for screening and assuring that you meet criteria. After this, a low-dose CT scan of the chest is performed which takes just a few minutes. If early screening shows an abnormal finding, more testing will likely be needed to confirm a diagnosis. However, most abnormal results are not cancer.
If you meet the screening criteria, a lung cancer screening visit and scan can be scheduled by calling Minnesota Oncology at 952.920.2920.
Share
Categories
Tags
Recent Posts
The holidays can be filled with celebrations and time spent with loved ones, but even in the best circumstances, it’s easy to feel overextended and anxious. Finding the balance between self-care and participation can put the focus on good health and cheer while managing the emotional and physical demands of cancer care.
A pathology report is essential to the diagnostic process. After a biopsy or breast cancer surgery, a pathologist will evaluate tissue and fluid samples and provide an analysis. This analysis will outline significant findings that will help your care team determine the best next steps.
Stress, fear, sadness and other strong emotions are normal during difficult experiences. Learning to manage these feelings through emotional outlets and healthy coping mechanisms is an important part of managing your overall health.