Summary
A study of over 10,000 people showed that sticking with regular lung cancer screening leads to better detection of early-stage cancer. However, fewer people returned for follow-up screenings each year.
In the study, about 61% of people came back for their first follow-up screening, but only about 50% returned for their second follow-up. People who came back for screenings were much more likely to have lung cancer detected than those who skipped appointments.
Most importantly, when people kept up with their screenings, doctors found cancer at earlier stages when it’s more treatable. Among those who attended their second follow-up screening, 73% of cancers were found at an early stage, compared to only 25% in people who missed their appointments.
This research shows that regular lung cancer screening saves lives by finding cancer early, but getting patients to return for yearly screenings remains a challenge that needs to be addressed.
