Lung Cancer at a Glance
This information has been reviewed and approved by Debra S. Dyer, MD (October 2022).
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Summary: You Can’t See Lung Damage
#1 Cause of Cancer Death in U.S.
If you have a smoking history, you have an increased risk of developing lung cancer. Screening with a low-dose CT scan can identify cancer early and save your life.
You Are Eligible for a Free* Lung Cancer Screening if You:
- Are you between 50 and 80 years old and
- Currently smoke or have quit in the last 15 years and
- Have at least a 20 pack-year history of smoking.
* For eligible patients, lung cancer screening is covered by most private insurance, Medicare and Medicaid.
Advantages of Low-Dose Screening CT Scan
- Safe – 90% less radiation than regular CT scans
- Accurate – Detects even the smallest abnormalities
- Fast – Scan takes less than 10 minutes
- Diagnosis – Detects both cancerous and noncancerous lung nodules
Lung cancer screening decreases risk of death by 20%
What Is a Lung Nodule?
- Small rounded spot on the lung detected by CT scan
- 97% of lung nodules are not cancerous
- Can be early lung cancer
What Is a Pack Year?
A pack year measures how much a person has smoked over a long period of time.
Multiply the number of packs of cigarettes smoked per day, by the number of years smoked.
1 pack per day for 20 years = 20 pack years
2 packs each day for 10 years = 2- pack years
Lung Cancer Screening
- Lung cancer caught early is treatable and curable.
- Screening of high risk patients has reduced lung cancer deaths by 20%.
- National Jewish Health catches more lung cancer at Stage 1 than the national average.
- Most patients have no sign of cancer and have a follow-up CT scan in one year.
- Schedule a lung cancer screening today and get a clear picture of your lung health.