Diagnostic screenings for people considered to be at risk for lung cancer can save lives, but very few people get it.
Diagnostic screenings for people considered to be at risk for lung cancer can save lives, but very few people get it.
Lung cancer is the deadliest cancer in the U.S., killing more people each year than breast, colon and prostate cancers.
“We know we don’t have enough patients screened at this time. We are reaching out to%% eligible patients in most states, perhaps; American College of Radiology, or ACR. Debra S. Dyer said some states are up to 10% or 12%.
Encouraging annual screening with low-dose lung CT scans for those who need testing, Dyer believes one challenge involves a formula for assessing who needs it.
“Eligibility requirements for mammography or colon cancer screening are not as simple as they say. It depends on gender or age, ”he said.
“To be diagnosed with lung cancer, right now, you have to be a smoker, and you have to have that minimal history and be at least 55 years old.”
It’s part of a history of smoking that can be difficult.
Heavy smoking means a smoking history of 30 pack-years or more. Includes a formula for analyzing pack-years. By drinking an average of one pack a day for 30 years or two packs a day for 15 years, a person can have a history of 30 pack-years. Screening is not recommended for people who quit smoking 15 or more years ago.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, people who should be screened:
- Has a history of heavy smoking.
- Smoke or quit now for the last 15 years.
- Between 55 and 80 years.
“Now that we use low-dose CT, with our advanced scanners, we can see excellent detail in the lungs, and detect these really small, early-stage cancers,” Dyer said.
And it can save lives.
For those who meet the criteria, professional insurance covers lung cancer screening as a preventive service.
The American Lung Association notes that DC, Virginia and Maryland are among the 38 Medicaid fee-service programs covering lung cancer screening with low-dose CT scans in September 2020.
Also, people at risk who are 55 to 77 years old are eligible for screening under Medicare.
If you are considering a lung cancer screening, you can consult the Agency for Healthcare Research and this quality decision help to help prepare for a conversation with your doctor.
The ACR website can help you find nearby accredited features for screening. Under the “Designation” drop-down menu, select “Lung Cancer Screening Center”. There are two in DC and many more in Virginia and Maryland.
According to the CDC, the best way to reduce your risk of lung cancer is to not smoke and not to smoke secondhand.
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