In recognition of November as National Lung Cancer Awareness
Month, we will provide an overview of the disease, discuss symptoms and risk
factors, and most importantly, explain how lung cancer screening finds cancer
at an early stage, when it may be easier to treat.
What is Lung Cancer?
Lung cancer, as the name implies, is a type of cancer that
originates in the lungs. It is the second most common cancer in both men and
women. Lung cancer is by far the leading cause of cancer death among both men
and women, making up almost 25% of all cancer deaths. Each year, more people
die of lung cancer than of colon, breast, and prostate cancers combined.
Lung cancer mainly occurs in older people. Most people
diagnosed with lung cancer are 65 or older; a very small number of people
diagnosed are younger than 45. The average age of people when diagnosed is
about 70.
Overall, the chance that a man will develop lung cancer in
his lifetime is about 1 in 15; for a woman, the risk is about 1 in 17. These
numbers include both smokers and non-smokers. For smokers the risk is much
higher, while for non-smokers the risk is lower.
The American Cancer Society's estimates for lung cancer in
the United States for 2022 are:
- About 236,740 new cases of lung cancer (117,910 in men and 118,830 in women)
- About 130,180 deaths from lung cancer (68,820 in men and 61,360 in women)
On a positive note, the number of lung cancer deaths has
been steadily decreasing for several years, due to advances in early detection
and treatment. One of the most effective methods of early detection is lung
cancer screening.
Screening is looking for cancer before you have any
symptoms, which can help find cancer at an early stage, increasing the chance
for survival and recovery. Lung cancer screening finds 80 percent of lung
cancer at an early stage when it is more curable. Without screening, 70 percent
of lung cancers are found at a later stage when there is little chance for a
cure. A recent nationwide trial showed low-dose spiral computed tomography
(LDCT) scans are better than chest x-rays at finding early-stage lung cancer.
Screening for lung cancer is similar to other screening tests, like mammograms
and colonoscopies. The first step is finding out if you meet the high-risk
criteria for screening. The criteria are based on your age, smoking history,
and additional risk factors.
If you are a current or former smoker between the ages of 55 to 77, you may benefit from a screening offered by one of Summit's four Diagnostic Imaging Centers. Medicare and most insurance carriers cover this screening at 100 percent. Call 865-212-2281 for more information.