Bad habits can make you more susceptible to the terrible disease known as lung cancer. According to the National Cancer Institute, the annual rate of new lung and bronchus cancer cases among men and women was 53.1 per 100,000. Lung cancer is a potential threat you cannot ignore, which is why early screening is so important. In this article, we’ll highlight the updated screening guidelines for cancer. Check out if you’re eligible for screening and schedule lung cancer treatments if you need them.
What Are the Eligibility Requirements for Lung Cancer Screening?
According to the American Cancer Society, an individual’s eligibility for lung cancer screening should be based on their age, smoking history, and their pack-years. Let’s begin by touching on the age-related guidelines. The new guidelines indicate that a person should go in for lung cancer screening if they are 50 to 80 years old. Previously, the guidelines indicated that screening should begin at age 55 and continue until an individual reaches age 74.
Smoking history is also an essential consideration for lung cancer screening purposes. In the past, screening was recommended for current smokers and those who quit in the last 15 years. The updated guidelines make you eligible for screening as long as you smoked.
Meanwhile, pack-years account for the number of cigarette packs a smoker consumes daily for a year. If you smoked at least one pack per day for one year, that is considered a full pack-year. Screening is recommended for any individual with at least 20 pack-years. There’s also a chance you may need lung cancer treatments with that kind of smoking history.
There are additional guidelines to keep in mind for those interested in lung screening. Individuals are discouraged from screening if they have life-limiting conditions. Your eligibility for lung cancer treatments is also considered. You should avoid screening if you cannot receive or don’t want to receive those treatments.
Why Is Lung Cancer Screening Important?
Go in for lung cancer screening if you’re eligible because it offers potentially life-saving benefits. According to the American Lung Association, screening can detect around 50% of early lung cancer cases. Without screening, the detection rate for early lung cancer plummets to 25%. Because lung cancer is more curable when it’s caught early, you have an enormous incentive to get your screening done as soon as you are eligible.
Be mindful of the lung cancer screening guidelines detailed here and determine your eligibility. As long as you’re diligent on that front, you have a fighting chance against a lung cancer diagnosis. We can also help you in that battle, so please don’t hesitate to reach out to Palo Verde Cancer Specialists for assistance.
Posted 2/14/24
