The early detection of lung cancer allows for patients to have more treatment options and a far greater chance of survival. As a result, the 5-year survival rate for those diagnosed before the cancer has spread rises from 18 out of every 100 people to 55 out of every 100. But, the key is being tested for lung cancer early.
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force has recently changed the guidelines for lung cancer screening.
Listen to two experts who helped establish the first set of screening guidelines on this episode from Hope With Answers: Living With Lung Cancer Podcast
NEW Lung Cancer Screening Recommendations: What does that mean?
Learn more about early detection
In this Hope With Answers℠ intro video, Dr. David Carbone from The Ohio State University Medical Center and David Sturges, lung cancer patient advocate and co-founder of LCFA, provide basic information about the importance of detecting lung cancer early. Scroll down to view the intermediate video where Dr. David Carbone and David Sturges dig a little deeper into the how and why of early detection for lung cancer.
How to detect lung cancer: Symptoms
Many times, symptoms do not manifest themselves in the early stages of lung cancer. Instead, most lung cancer patients are diagnosed in the late stages of the disease, making their treatment more problematic. Subsequently, this delay in diagnosis significantly reducing the overall lung cancer survival rate.
But, there are some classic symptoms of lung cancer that, by themselves, are generally not a cause for worry. If you experience any of these symptoms, please talk to your doctor to rule out lung cancer:
- Persistent cough (especially if you are coughing up rust-colored sputum)
- Shortness of breath
- Hoarseness
- Chronic bronchitis
- Chest pain
- Unexplained weight loss
- Bone pain
If your doctor recommends you be tested for lung cancer, there are several options currently available for this evaluation. Your doctor will recommend the best test for you:
- Low dose CT Scan (low dose computed tomography scan)
- Nasal swabs
- Blood tests
How to detect lung cancer: Risk factors
There are many factors that might put you at risk for lung cancer. Many people believe that smoking alone causes lung cancer. But, increasingly, people who have never smoked or who quit smoking many years ago are being diagnosed with lung cancer.
If you have any of the following lung cancer risk factors, you should see your doctor to determine if you need further screening for cancer.
- Smoking
- Exposure to second-hand smoke
- Exposure to radon gas
- Exposure to asbestos
- Exposure to other carcinogens
- Air pollution
- Arsenic in drinking water
- Previous radiation to lungs
- Personal or family history of lung cancer
Does insurance cover early detection testing?
Studies over the last 15 years using early detection screening such as spiral CT have been shown to reduce lung cancer deaths by 16% to 20%. Because of these findings, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force now recommends annual computed tomography (CT) screening for people who meet specific criteria. More importantly, this non-invasive diagnostic test may be covered by Medicare and most insurance companies.
If you answered YES to these 3 questions, you meet the criteria:
If you answered YES to these 3 questions, you meet the latest criteria set by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force that recommends annual computed tomography (CT) screening. This non-invasive diagnostic test may be covered by Medicare and insurance companies. Make an appointment with your doctor and discuss this testing with them.
If you answered NO to any of these questions BUT have any concerns regarding your lung cancer risks, you should make an appointment with your doctor.
