Why It’s So Important
When lung cancer is discovered at an earlier stage – when it’s still small and hasn’t spread yet – it has a higher chance of being treated successfully.
Unfortunately, you usually don’t get symptoms until it’s well advanced.
You can still mistake symptoms for other diseases, like pneumonia, flu, or sore throat.
How Does a Scan Detect Cancer?
Talk to your doctor about the benefits of lung cancer screening, especially if you’re at higher risk for lung cancer, your doctor may recommend a screening examination. The examination itself is painless and can identify cancer early.
In individuals with a greater risk, low-dose Computer-tomographic (LDCT) scans may assist in the detection of lung cancer. If you smoke or have previously been a smoker, and if you’re 55 to 80 years old, yearly screening is recommended. Your health care team can assist you in determining whether your insurance will cover it.