"The purpose of lung cancer screening is to detect lung cancer early before the appearance of symptoms and improve the chances of cure"

Video: Why is lung cancer screening important?

Understanding Lung Cancer Screening

Lung cancer screening helps find cancer early—before you feel sick or notice symptoms—when it is often easier to treat and cure.

What does lung cancer screening involve?

• Screening uses a special imaging test called a Low-Dose Computed Tomography (LDCT) scan to take clear, detailed pictures of your lungs.
• It uses a very small amount of radiation—less than half of what is used in a standard CT scan.
• The scan is quick and painless: you lie flat on an exam table for a few minutes, and you should not feel discomfort.

Do I need this test?
If you smoke now or smoked for many years, talk with your doctor about two key questions:

• Do you meet the screening requirements?
• What benefits and other factors should you consider before having the test?

General Screening Guidelines

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends screening if you meet all 3 conditions below:

• Age: You are 50 to 80 years old.
• Smoking Status: You currently smoke, or you quit less than 15 years ago.
• Smoking Amount: You have smoked 20 pack-years or more (see note below).

Note: What Is a “Pack-Year”?

A pack-year is a way to measure how much tobacco a person has smoked over time:
Packs smoked per day × total years smoked = pack-years

Examples:

• Smoking 1 pack per day for 20 years equals 20 pack-years (1 × 20 = 20).
• Smoking 2 packs per day for 10 years also equals 20 pack-years (2 × 10 = 20).

Both examples equal 20 pack-years and meet the screening requirement.