EGFR and Lung Cancer

Are You Eligible For Lung Cancer Screening?

Matthew Facktor

When you think about cancer screenings, a mammogram or colonoscopy may come to mind. But annual lung cancer screenings have become another important tool that can help detect lung cancer earlier.

In its early stages, lung cancer may not show any symptoms. That's why, if you meet the criteria for getting screened, lung cancer screenings are key to early detection.

But is screening right for you?

What is a lung cancer screening?

Lung cancer screenings are non-invasive diagnostic tests that can help detect cancer in its earliest stages. Whether you still smoke or quit years ago, a lung cancer screening can help you stay on top of your health.

Early detection of lung cancer can allow you to start early treatment and is one of our best tools in beating cancer.

During the screening, your doctor will use a specialized scanner to take a detailed computerized picture of your lungs. This painless, low-dose CT scan uses 75% less radiation than a traditional CT scan.

The screening itself only takes a few minutes. And when the scan is over, you can go back to your regular activities right away.

Am I eligible for a lung

cancer screening?

You're a good candidate for a yearly lung cancer screening if you:

— Are between age 50 and 80

— Have a 20-pack-year history of smoking (this means you smoked one pack a day for 20 years, two packs a day for 15 years or other variations. Your doctor can help you calculate your pack-year history.)

— Currently smoke or quit smoking within the last 15 years

Is it covered by insurance?

If your provider determines that you're eligible, a screening may be covered by your health insurance at no cost to you — but it's always a good idea to check with your insurance first. And if you don't have insurance, ask your healthcare provider for more information.

Think of a lung cancer screening the way you would any other preventive exam. If you're eligible, your provider can help you schedule a screening.

What happens after a lung cancer screening?

After your scan, the results will be sent to your doctor. They'll review the findings with you and answer any questions. If you need further testing, they will discuss any next steps.

Your doctor will explain your options, whether that's for more tests or future screenings. You'll work together to create a plan built around your needs.

Quit smoking to lower your risk of lung cancer

Quitting smoking is an excellent way to reduce your risk of developing lung cancer.

While smoking isn't the only factor that increases lung cancer risk, it's certainly a big risk factor and something to take seriously when it comes to your health.

Although the idea of quitting may seem challenging, it doesn't have to be. Start by talking to your healthcare provider. They'll work with you to develop a plan to quit smoking and help you find resources to be successful.

Remember, you may experience a few stops and starts along the way — and that's OK. The important part is to keep going.

If you've tried to quit in the past, it's never too late to try again. For the latest health and wellness tips and advice, visit geisinger.Org/balance.

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Dr. Matthew Facktor, MD, works in thoracic surgery at Geisinger.

Early Lung Cancer Detection

According to a critical care pulmonologist with Lee Health, every day, two people in Lee County hear the news that they have lung cancer.

However, many find out too late when it's harder to treat, but thanks to new screenings and tools, there's hope for catching it early.

Denise and Steve Simard, who are in their 60s, are an active couple. However, they never imagined the activity they'd faced in the past six months.

"In May, when I went for a screening, they called me the same day, which is never good news, and found out that they had a spot that they wanted to investigate further," Denise said.

A long-time smoker, Simard kicked the habit 15 years ago; based on her history, she was eligible for annual CT scans to look for lung cancer.

"Meaning you smoke a pack a day for 20 years or more, or they have to have quit within the last 15 years, and they can be qualified to get screened," said Krista Marzano, a nurse practitioner at Advanced Lung Care Center.

Finding a suspicious spot, Denise had an ion robot biopsy. It's like a colonoscopy for the lungs, navigating the far reaches of the lungs and taking a sample.

"In the past, we weren't able to get to some of the lesions that we needed to, and so we'd have to wait for the lesion to get bigger, and once it was bigger, it had already spread to other parts of the body," said Dr. Shyam Kapadia, critical care pulmonologist at Lee Health.

Through testing, doctors found stage 2 lung cancer.

"I was totally flabbergasted because everybody gets the impression that cancer has symptoms, and it's true for the advanced stages, but I literally had no symptoms," Denise said.

Denise had surgery to remove part of her left lung, followed by four rounds of chemo.

Denise said all of this took place in less than a six-month span.

Now, her outlook is good.

"When you find lung cancer early, you really change the trajectory of that patient's life. People like Denise get to make it to their kids' first graduation or to their wedding anniversaries or go on a vacation with their spouses," Kapadia said.

Weeks after treatment, the Simards were off enjoying an adventure cruise.

"I felt good enough to do everything, and that was two and a half weeks after my last chemo treatment," Denise said.

The sooner the disease is found, the more likely patients can put it behind them.

The difference between life and death, based on the stage at which lung cancer is detected, is immense.

If caught at stage 4, which is common, there is a 2% survival rate at five years, according to the American Cancer Society.

UC Davis Doctor Explains Importance Of Lung Cancer Screenings For Early Detection

During Lung Cancer Awareness Month, ABC10 talked with a doctor about kinds are screenings that are fast, easy and painless.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. —

November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month and statistics show it's the leading cause of cancer death in the U.S for both men and women. 

Dr. David Cooke with the UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center told ABC10 those who are at the highest risk of lung cancer are people ages 50 to 80 and have smoked "20 pack years."  

Cooke said a "pack year" is the number of packs someone smokes per day multiplied by the number of years they've smoked. 

For someone who smokes a pack a day for 20 years, that's considered "20 pack years."  

The good news is that early detection can save a life, and screenings are fast, easy, and painless. 

Screening tests consist of a low-dose CT scan, which can be ordered by a primary doctor.  

"It's a specialized X-ray; it's a donut. You lie on a table, and you don't have to take off your clothes. There's no IV, and it takes 30 seconds," Cooke said. "It's up to you if you take off your shoes or not. And just in that 30 seconds you can get screened." 

Early detection doesn't happen enough, as 75% of people with lung cancer learn about their diagnosis in the most advanced stages, Cooke said. 

In California, Cooke said the need for screenings and awareness is even more important, as the state ranks last in the country in lung cancer screenings. Only 1% of eligible Californians get screened for lung cancer. 

Click here to learn more about how to screen for lung cancer.  

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