Stage 3 Pancreatic Cancer: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment

Early Detection And Screening For Lung Cancer: A Pathway To Improved Outcomes

Lung cancer is a tough challenge in the field of cancer care, and it keeps testing both patients and healthcare providers. As an experienced Cancer Doctor with a profound commitment to patient care, I feel the need to stress how important it is to find lung cancer early through detection and screening. With over a decade of experience, I have witnessed how stepping in early can really change the results for patients and how it affects their chances of surviving.

The urgency of early detection

Lung cancer often shows few signs during its initial phases, making it a silent threat that can advance rapidly. By the time symptoms become noticeable,  the cancer could already be harder to treat. This is why detecting it early holds great significance. If we catch lung cancer early, it can be treated more easily and with better results. This means patients can have less invasive treatments, better chances of getting better, and a better life quality.

Advancements in screening techniques

In recent years, there have been remarkable advancements in lung cancer screening. Advanced imaging methods, like low-dose computed tomography (LDCT), have proven their ability to spot lung cancers in an earlier and more manageable phase. These screening methods are especially useful for people who have smoked before or have other risk factors.

Patient empowerment through education

Equipping patients with information is a key part of how I approach healthcare. Educating individuals about the risk factors associated with lung cancer and the significance of regular screenings is crucial.

Collectively we can challenge the existing ways of diagnosing and treating lung cancer. Through continued research, patient education, and collaborative efforts, we can create a path toward a future where lung cancer is detected early and treated effectively, helping patients regain control of their lives from this powerful opponent.

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Disclaimer

Views expressed above are the author's own.

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The Importance Of Screening For Lung Cancer: What You Need To Know

MURRAY, Utah (ABC4 Utah) – In the United States, lung cancer is the second most common cancer. It's also the leading cause of death from cancer. If lung cancer is found at an earlier stage, when it is small and before it has spread, it is more likely to be treated successfully, according to experts at Intermountain Health.

Lung cancer screening is recommended for certain people who smoke or used to smoke, but who don't have any signs or symptoms.

"If a person has lung cancer but doesn't have any symptoms, this usually means there's a chance to detect the disease early," said Timothy Leclair, an interventional pulmonologist at Intermountain Health.

"Usually, symptoms of lung cancer don't appear until the disease is already at an advanced stage. Even when lung cancer does cause symptoms, many people may mistake them for other problems, such as an infection or long-term effects from smoking. This may delay the diagnosis," said Dr. Leclair.

The US Preventive Services Task Force, the American Academy of Family Physicians, and the American College of Chest Physicians recommend yearly lung cancer screening with low-dose CT (LDCT) scan scans for people who:

– Are 50 to 80 years old and in fairly good health, and currently smoke or have quit in the past 15 years,and have at least a 20 pack-year smoking history. (This is the number of packs of cigarettes per day multiplied by the number of years smoked. For example, someone who smoked 2 packs a day for 10 years [2 x 10 = 20] has 20 pack-years of smoking, as does a person who smoked 1 pack a day for 20 years [1 x 20 = 20].)

In addition, it's important that people who are going to be screened:

– Receive counseling to quit smoking if they currently smoke, and have been told by their doctor about the possible benefits, limits, and harms of screening with LDCT scans, and can go to a center that has experience in lung cancer screening and treatment.

If you have symptoms that could be from lung cancer, see your doctor right away. People who already have symptoms that might be from lung cancer may need tests such as CT scans to find the cause, which in some cases may be cancer. But this kind of testing is for diagnosis and is not the same as screening.

"If you are at higher risk for lung cancer, your doctor can explain your risk and how lung cancer screening might apply to you. Your doctor can also talk with you about what happens during screening and the best places to get the yearly screening test," noted Dr. Leclair.

Lung cancer screening is covered by Medicare and by many private health insurance plans. Dr. Leclair said your health care team can help you find out if your insurance will provide coverage.

Visit IntermountainHealth.Org for more information.

Sponsored by Intermountain Health.

Why Lung Cancer Screenings Work And Who Should Be Screened

Each year, Aug. 1 is World Lung Cancer Day to raise awareness about lung cancer issues. This article will focus on the importance of detecting lung cancer at an early state, when it's more likely to be treated.

It is estimated that nearly 238,000 Americans will be stricken with lung cancer this year. Lung cancer is the second most common cancer and leading cause of death from cancer.

Screening, a test to check for a disease in someone who does not have any symptoms, is appropriate for some people who are in high-risk categories. Currently, lung cancer screening is covered by most insurance plans for a specific high-risk population once a year. The screening guidelines for those at high risk for lung cancer are: age 50-80 (Medicare part B currently covers ages 50-77); a current smoker or quit smoking within the last 15 years; and 20 pack-years or greater smoking history. Pack-years are calculated by multiplying the number of packs per day by the total number of years smoked.

Lung cancer can be aggressive and advance quickly between stages. This is why it is important to be screened every year until you are out of the recommended age range. Regular screenings will help your health care provider determine if any spots or abnormalities in your lungs are stable or need additional testing. Screening for lung cancer before symptoms appear is important. Without screening, most people do not see signs of lung cancer until it has spread to other areas of the body, making it harder to treat. If you are having symptoms such as cough, coughing up blood, shortness of breath, pain in chest, fatigue, hoarseness or unexplained weight loss, please talk with your healthcare provider.

Lung cancer screening uses a low-dose chest CT scan (also known as a LDCT). Currently the LDCT is the only proven method to detect lung cancer early, before symptoms occur. As with all cancer screening tests, this test in not perfect. Some cancers may still be missed. Some scans may show spots in the lung that look suspicious but may not be cancerous. These are called false positives. Similar to moles on the skin, your lungs may have spots or nodules that need to be watched, and when needed your health care provider may recommend additional testing to diagnose or rule out lung cancer. Additional testing may include a chest CT in a few months to see if the spots found during the initial LDCT have changed. In some instances, your health care provider may refer you for a minimally invasive tissue sampling or biopsy, or possible surgery or other treatments.

The LDCT is a quick and painless test. During the scan, a machine called a CT scanner takes 3D x-ray pictures of your lung using a small amount of radiation. The level of radiation is more than a chest x-ray but much lower than other types of CT scans. There are no needles or dye used during the scan. Typically, your clothing is left on and there is no need to limit eating or drinking prior to the test. The entire appointment for lung cancer screening takes about 20-30 minutes with the actual scan taking less than 10 minutes to complete. The images from the scan will be reviewed by a radiologist and the final results will be sent to your health care provider.

An important aspect of lung cancer screening is decreasing the risk of cancer. Smoking causes 80-85 percent of lung cancers in the United States. Risk increases with the number of years and packs per day a person has smoked. To reduce your risk, don't start smoking. If you smoke, take steps now to quit. Quitting tobacco use is the best thing you can do to improve your health. Talk to your healthcare provider about options to help you stop smoking and find the best way to quit. Quitting smoking improves your life in many ways, including improving your health status and quality of life, reducing the risk of premature death and decreasing the costs associated with smoking.

Please talk with your health care provider about lung cancer screening to see if you would benefit from a test.

Susan Robinson, RN, is the Care Manager and Coordinator for SSM Health Lung Cancer Screening Program. Her background includes more than 20 years as a cardiopulmonary nurse at St. Mary's Hospital. Having seen firsthand the devastating effects of smoking on the lungs, including COPD and lung cancer, she uses her knowledge and experience to help patients understand the importance of detecting lung cancer at an early state, when it's more likely to be treated. For questions about the SSM Health Lung Cancer Screening Program, please call 573-681-3753.

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