Lung cancer kills more Americans each year than breast, prostate and colon cancer combined.
Research now shows testing older smokers and former smokers with special low-dose CT scans can catch lung cancer when it's early - before it has spread.
"In this select group of people at particularly high risk for lung cancer because of their smoking, we can identity some of these people early enough that we can cure them,” said Dr. John Swarztberg, head of the editorial board at the UC Berkeley Wellness Letter.
And it's not just an oridnary CT scan.
"It's a special protocol for the scan and that includes radiologist who are very experience in reading these special CT scans," Swartzberg said.
Here is the new government recommendation, endorsed by American Cancer Society and American Lung Association: If you are between 55 and 79 years old and have smoked heavily for many years, discuss the pros and cons of lung cancer screening with your health care provider.
More Info: The Value of Lung Scans