Lung Cancer Screening
Lung cancer screening is a series of one or more medical test procedures conducted on patients to determine if there is any sign of cancer cells or nodules within or on the lungs or to confirm a diagnosis of lung cancer. In the past, the primary lung cancer screening tests were chest X-rays or sputum cytology. Within the past few years, a new method of screening for lung cancer using spiral, also called helical, CT scans has been developed.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that of all the cancers that are treated, lung cancer is the No. 1 killer of men and women. That highlights the importance for anyone who is high risk for developing lung cancer, or thinks they may be high risk, to speak to their doctor to determine if they should receive lung cancer screening. The earlier treatment for lung cancer is started, the higher the survival rate might be for patients.
Individuals that are considered high risk for developing lung cancer, and who would possibly benefit from lung cancer screening, are in two main categories; those exposed to known carcinogens like asbestos and heavy and/or long-term tobacco smokers.
If a screening detects potential lung cancer and you know you were exposed to asbestos, consider using our free Doctor Match Program. The program is designed to link lung cancer patients to doctors who are expert in treating the disease. Call 800-549-0544 to get more information about the Doctor Match Program or to enroll.
Who Needs Lung Cancer Screening?
The top eight known carcinogenic substances listed by the NCCN that place individuals in a high risk category for developing lung cancer are arsenic, chromium, asbestos, nickel, cadmium, beryllium, silica and diesel fumes. Someone exposed to these agents and also smokes increases to the highest level their odds of developing lung cancer.
A second group of high-risk individuals that may benefit from lung-cancer screening are smokers with a history of smoking one or more packs of cigarettes a day for several years. According to the NCCN, smokers account for 85 percent of lung cancer-related deaths.
The relationship of lung cancer and smoking is well-established. People that smoke and are exposed to cancer-causing agents like asbestos and diesel fumes are at the highest level of risk for developing lung cancer.
Moderate-risk and low-risk individuals, such as those who have a family history of lung cancer or were exposed to second hand smoke, are generally not considered candidates for lung cancer screening. If someone in the moderate- and low-risk categories has an occupation that exposes them to carcinogens, such as asbestoses, then that individual's risk level increases to a higher level for developing lung cancer. That makes them a stronger candidate to have a lung-cancer screening.
Lung Cancer Screening Facilities
Primary care physicians refer patients for lung cancer screening if they feel that patient fits into a moderate- or high-risk category. Exactly who performs the screening and the type of tests they receive depends on a variety of factors: distance to available medical facilities, insurance coverage for lung cancer screening and available medical network providers.
Medical facilities like network hospitals, university hospitals and cancer centers offer a variety of screening options such as sputum cytology and chest X-rays. Individual hospital websites often list the tests they provide. Since the new NCCN lung cancer screening guidelines were published in late 2011, many of medical facilities are offering the new spiral/helical CT scan for lung cancer screening.
Some facilities also have ongoing clinical studies and clinical trials involving people with lung cancer with individuals considered a high risk of developing lung cancer.
Types of Lung Cancer Screening
In lung cancer screening, a chest X-ray is taken to check patients’ lungs for abnormalities that might be cancer. This type of imagery only shows hard tissue, such as bones, tumors or nodules. Doctors look at X-rays for nodules, spots on or in the lungs, to determine if further screening or tests need to be done.
Sputum cytology, a microscopic examination, is often used to inspect mucus from the lungs for cancer cells.
The spiral/helical computer tomography, or CT scan, is an X-ray image of hard and soft tissue using the combined technology of computers and X-ray. The machine is able to take pictures of the body in a cross section form allowing doctors to view the patients in a 3-D type of form.
In recent trial studies conducted by the National Cancer Institute, more sensitive spiral/helical CT scans were able to detect smaller nodules than X-rays. As with all cancers, early detection is a key factor in successful treatment. And in clinical trials, spiral/helical CT scans were able to assist doctors in earlier detection than chest X-rays. According to the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, or NCCN, during the clinical trial, the survival rate for lung cancer patients who received lung cancer screening using the spiral/helical CT scan was increased by 20 percent.
Risks of Lung Cancer Screening
As with any medical procedure, lung cancer screenings carry some risk to patients.
Chest X-rays expose recipients to small amounts of high-dose radiation. The greater the number of X-rays a patient receives in a lifetime, the greater the amount of radiation the patient is exposed to. Radiation can increase the possibility of developing some types of cancers. A spiral/helical CT scan is considered a low-dose radiation procedure and exposes patients to less radiation than chest X-rays. The scan is not generally considered a radiation risk.
Survival rates for lung cancer are 31 to 49 percentFalse-Negative results can happen for a variety of reasons. Among them: A misinterpretation of results or lung cancer nodules being too small to detect. Not spotting lung cancer at its earliest stage allows the untreated cancer to progress to a more advanced stage. Survival rates drop as the stages of lung cancer progress.
False-Positive results can lead unnecessary invasive medical procedures, ones that carry their own risks. Many doctors feel the risk associated with a false-positive lung cancer screening outweigh the cost of missing the opportunity to detect a patient's lung cancer early.
Another risk factor is the emotional toll of false lung cancer screening results. Patients and families might face emotional devastation after learning cancer was missed on a previous screening, and those who screen false-positive face the emotional toll the news of cancer can bring. There may also be emotional distress for patients having the financial burden of unnecessary medical bills that cause financial strain.
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Last Modified Friday, April 27th, 2012 | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy |
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