Lung cancer is the deadliest cancer in the United States, causing more deaths each year than many other common cancers. Because early lung cancer rarely causes symptoms, screening with low-dose CT is one of the most important tools for catching it while it is still treatable.

Key Points

• Low-dose CT is the recommended screening test for lung cancer.
• Annual screening is recommended for many adults 50 to 80 with a significant smoking history.
• Medicare covers annual lung cancer screening for eligible beneficiaries.
• Finding lung cancer before it spreads dramatically improves survival.

Why Screening Matters

When lung cancer is found while still localized, roughly 6 in 10 people survive at least five years. Once it spreads to distant organs, five-year survival falls to fewer than 1 in 10. Yet most lung cancers are diagnosed at a later stage, because early tumors typically cause no symptoms.

A Patient's Story

Linda Will is one example of what early detection can mean. A heart and lung scan revealed a tumor in her lung, and she was able to begin treatment before the cancer spread. She shares her experience in the video below.

Who Qualifies for Screening?

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends annual low-dose CT screening for adults who:

• Are 50 to 80 years old
• Have a smoking history of at least 20 pack-years (for example, one pack a day for 20 years)
• Currently smoke or quit within the past 15 years

Medicare covers annual lung cancer screening for beneficiaries ages 50 to 77 who meet similar smoking-history criteria and have a shared decision-making visit with their provider. Many private insurers follow the USPSTF guidelines.

Other Risk Factors

Smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer, but other factors raise risk too:

• A family history of lung cancer
• Exposure to radon gas
• Exposure to asbestos and other occupational carcinogens
• Significant secondhand smoke exposure
• Long-term exposure to air pollution, fumes and chemicals

People with these risk factors who don't meet formal screening criteria should talk with their doctor about whether imaging makes sense. Preventive imaging centers such as Advanced Body Scan offer lung scans on a self-referral basis, and many people pair lung imaging with a heart scan.

The Takeaway

Low-dose CT screening saves lives by catching lung cancer early. If you have a history of smoking or other risk factors, ask your doctor about screening. More patient experiences are shared on the Stories of Survival page.