Why screening for the deadliest cancer in the U.S. misses most cases [View all]

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Under current recommendations, people are eligible for screening if they are 50 to 80 years old and have a history of heavy smoking, either actively or in the past 15 years. But those guidelines exclude a large number of people who could have their cancer detected earlier, according to a new study published Thursday in JAMA Network Open, a peer-reviewed journal. The study indicated that of the roughly 1,000 patients treated for lung cancer at Northwestern Medicine, only one-third met requirements for screening. The researchers noted that women, minorities and people who never smoked were disproportionately excluded.

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If screening were made available for anyone between the ages of 40 to 85 years old, researchers estimate that nearly 94 percent of lung cancer cases could be detected, preventing at least roughly 26,000 deaths each year if even 30 percent of people got screened. “Lung cancer is the biggest cause of cancer deaths in this country,” Bharat said. “It kills more people than breast, colon and prostate put together.” He and other experts said the study’s findings highlight that the cancer should no longer be seen as just a smoker’s disease.

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Those who are eligible for screening should get a low-dose CT scan annually, according to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, an independent panel of medical experts who recommend screenings and services to keep Americans healthy. These scans, which are covered by insurance for people who meet the USPSTF screening requirements, use a much lower amount of radiation than conventional CT scans and have been shown to be able to detect early lung cancers, as well as other conditions, according to medical experts.

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Some symptoms to watch out for include:

A dry cough that doesn’t get better
Chest pressure
Unexplained weight loss
Coughing blood


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