Healthy Lung vs. Smokers Lung
Low-Dose CT lung screenings have proved to be an effective tool for early detection of lung cancer, the leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States. Routine chest X-rays are often unable to detect lung cancers until they are of advanced stage. Low-dose CT can greatly improve the likelihood of detection of early lung cancers, enabling treatment at a more curable stage.
- It is painless and non-invasive
- Low-dose CT uses up to 90% less radiation than conventional CT chest scan
- Proven to reduce the number of deaths from lung cancer patients at high risk
- Often found in early stages.
Who’s at Risk?
- Tobacco smoking
- Personal history of smoking related cancer
- Family history of lung cancer
- Certain chronic lung diseases
- Contact with cancer-causing agents
Medicare will now cover lung screening with low dose CT once per year to persons meeting the following criteria:
- Age 55-77, and are either current smokers or have quit smoking within the past 15 years.
- Receive a written order from a physician that meets certain requirements
- Have a tobacco history of at least 30 pack years. To calculate smoking pack-years divide the number of cigarettes smoked per day by 20 (number of cigarettes in a pack) then multiply the number of years smoked.
- Asymptomatic (no diagnosis or symptoms of lung cancer)
Article explaining the benefits of CT lung screening CLICK HERE