Lung Cancer and Lung Cancer Screening
Screening
Undergoing regular
screening may be a good idea for people with a high risk of developing lung
cancer. Screening is with a low-dose CT scan.
The American Lung
Association recommend screening if a person meets all the following
criteria:
- is aged 55–80
years
- has a
history of heavy smoking (30 pack years, which is one pack per day for 30
years or two packs per day for 15 years)
- currently
smokes or has quit smoking within the past 15 years
Insurance will often
cover this screening if a person is aged 55–80 years and has private health
insurance or is aged 55–77 years, has Medicare, and meets all the other
criteria.
However, people should
check with their insurance company before signing up for lung cancer screening.
If a person has any
symptoms that could indicate lung cancer or if screening shows something
unusual, a healthcare professional will likely recommend some diagnostic
tests.
Imaging
tests
An X-ray, CT, MRI, or
PET scan might reveal areas of lung tissue with cancer.
If the cancer has
spread, imaging tests can also reveal changes to bones and other organs. Scans
can also help track the progress of treatment.
Tissue
sampling
A healthcare
professional may wish to take a biopsy to check for cancer cells. They will do
this using a fine needle or a bronchoscope.
A bronchoscope is a
thin, lighted scope with a camera on the end that enters the lungs through the
mouth or nose. A healthcare professional can use it to look for lesions and
take samples.
For less accessible
lesions, they may use a more invasive surgical procedure, such as thoracoscopy
or video-assisted thoracic surgery, to remove lung tissue.
Other
samples
Laboratory tests can
also reveal whether or not cancer is present in the:
- pleural
effusion, which is the fluid that collects around the lungs
- sputum
- blood
This information can
help confirm if cancer is present and, if it is, determine its type and stage.
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