Early Detection of Lung Cancer: A Lifesaver

Lung cancer is a significant health concern that often goes unnoticed until it's too late. Between 2016 and 2020, it had the highest mortality rate among cancers across genders and races. We'll explore why catching lung cancer in its early stages is so important and how modern technology plays a vital role in improving patient outcomes. 

In our efforts to combat lung cancer, it's crucial to recognize National Lung Cancer Screening Day on November 11th, 2023. This day is dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of early detection and screening for lung cancer, emphasizing the significance of proactive screening and its life-saving potential.

Symptoms show up late.

Lung cancer typically exhibits no symptoms until it reaches an advanced stage, which poses a significant challenge for patients. Symptoms can be difficult to differentiate from other respiratory issues. Common symptoms can include: chronic cough, repeated respiratory infections, coughing up blood, shortness of breath, hoarseness, and chest pain. Individuals who are current smokers or former smokers who quit within the past 15 years are considered high risk. Smoking places an individual at significant risk due to the accumulation of damage to the lungs through smoke inhalation and tar build up. Tobacco products also contain multiple chemicals that damage healthy lung cells. If these cells are damaged they are more susceptible to mutations. Mutations can lead to tumor development if cell growth regulation is disrupted. An unregulated cell may continue to divide, amassing to a tumor. Age is also a factor because over time the efficiency of cell regulation declines, but is at a much slower rate in non-smoking individuals vs smoking individuals. 

Early detection is key.

Early detection is the best hope of overcoming a lung cancer diagnosis. Screening can be conducted with X-rays and low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) scans. X-rays are the most primitive screening technique for tumor detection. The high radiation levels from X-rays can be detrimental to an individual's health and can aggravate the issue at hand. As care is prolonged, more scans are conducted, leading to higher radiation exposure, increasing the possibility of further cancer growth. As a result of this domino effect, individuals who receive traditional X-rays have a lower survival rate compared to LDCT scan recipients. Although LDCT scans are conducted with X-ray technology, it is a modified version that produces five times less radiation than the typical X-ray. It is a non-invasive procedure that does not require dyes or contrast to allow for tumor detection. It is conducted on a table that goes in and out of a chamber. This chamber has technology that takes multiple pictures of an individual's lungs. At the end of the scan, the pictures are placed together with enough detail to “reveal lung abnormalities the size of a grain of rice.”  According to the National Lung Screening Trial (NLST), low-dose computed tomography LDCT resulted in a “20% reduction in mortality compared to chest X-ray screening.” This suggests that patients who received low-dose CT scans have a better chance of survival than participants who received standard chest X-rays.

Get Screened Annually

We recommend yearly lung cancer screening with LDCT scans for individuals who meet the following criteria:

• Are 50 to 80 years old and in fairly good health

• Currently smoke or have quit in the past 15 years

• Have at least a 20 pack-year smoking history (calculated as the number of packs of cigarettes smoked per day multiplied by the number of years smoked)

Despite advancements in cancer treatment, lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer mortality in the United States and worldwide. It is crucial that we continue to raise awareness, promote early detection, and support those affected by this disease.

On National Lung Cancer Screening Day, let's emphasize the importance of awareness, early detection, and the role of LDCT scans in reducing mortality rates among individuals at high risk for lung cancer. By promoting proactive screening, we can potentially save lives and improve the outcomes of those affected by lung cancer. To support individuals impacted by lung cancer and to further this mission, consider connecting with LiveLung.

LiveLung is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to serving the lung cancer community. To learn more about LiveLung, access their resources, or get involved with their mission, visit their website or reach out to them directly. 

Livelung.org 

Lung Cancer Screening Locator Tool: https://www.acr.org/Clinical-Resources/Lung-Cancer-Screening-Resources/LCS-Locator-Tool 

Citations: 

Deval, José Cervera, et al. “[Translated Article] Lung Cancer Screening: Survival in an Extensive Early Detection Program in Spain (I-ELCAP).” Archivos De Bronconeumología, vol. 58, no. 5, 5 May 2022, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arbres.2021.10.012. 

“Advancing Small Cell Lung Cancer Research.” LiveLung, 11 Apr. 2023, livelung.org/. 

“Lung Cancer Screening.” Lung Cancer Screening | Johns Hopkins Medicine, Johns Hopkins Medicine, 8 Aug. 2021, https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/lung-cancer/lung-cancer-screening. 

Rampinelli, Cristiano, et al. “Low-Dose CT: Technique, Reading Methods and Image Interpretation.” Cancer Imaging, vol. 12, no. 3, 8 Feb. 2012, pp. 548–556., https://doi.org/10.1102/1470-7330.2012.0049. 

Bidzińska, Joanna (02/2023). "See Lung Cancer with an AI". Cancers (2072-6694), 15 (4), p. 1321.