“WHEN SHOULD I ASK ABOUT LUNG CANCER SCREENING?”

Lung cancer is the second most common cancer (not counting skin cancer) in both men and women, only behind prostate in men and breast in women. Although it is the second most common, it remains the leading cause of cancer death in America. Approximately 1 in 5 cancer deaths a year are attributed to lung cancer. More Americans die every year of Lung cancer than colon, prostate and breast cancer combined. Lung cancer is considered a silent killer and is often diagnosed at a late stage, when treatment options are limited and survival rates are low. The greatest advancement in the care of lung cancer occurred in the early 2000s after the national lung cancer screening trial, which cemented the knowledge that early detection of lung cancer with low dose CT scans saves lives. Early detection through screening is crucial in improving outcomes for individuals at high risk of developing lung cancer.