Lung cancer screening uses a low-dose lung CT scan to check for early signs of disease, but it isn’t recommended for everyone. You may be a candidate, under Medicare guidelines, if you’re between the ages of 50 and 77 with a significant smoking history, whether you currently smoke or quit within the past 15 years, and have no symptoms of lung cancer.
This guide covers who is a candidate for a lung cancer screening, when to consider scheduling a low-dose lung CT lung cancer screening and how American Health Imaging can help you get clear answers about your lung health.
What Is Lung Cancer Screening?
Lung cancer screening uses a low-dose CT, or LDCT, scan to capture detailed pictures of your lungs while using a fraction of the radiation of a standard CT scan. The goal in screening is early detection. Because lung cancer often causes no symptoms in its earliest stages, screening gives your care team a way to find small nodules early, long before they might otherwise be noticed.
This is important because survival rates improve significantly when lung cancer is found early, before it has had the chance to spread. Screening for lung cancer is designed for people who feel healthy today but carry risk factors, such as a long smoking history, that raise their chance of developing lung cancer over time.
Who Is Eligible for Lung Cancer Screening?
The Medicare criteria for lung cancer screenings are based on age and smoking history, since these are the two factors most closely linked to lung cancer risk. You may be a candidate for screening if you meet the following criteria:
- You are between the ages of 50 and 77
- You have at least a 20-pack-year smoking history (one pack-year equals smoking one pack a day for one year)
- You currently smoke or quit smoking within the past 15 years
- You have no current signs or symptoms of lung cancer
Even if you don’t check every box above, factors like a family history of lung cancer or exposure to radon, asbestos or secondhand smoke can also raise your risk. Your doctor can help you understand whether a lung screening makes sense for you.
When Should You Get Lung Cancer Screening?
Once you meet the criteria for lung cancer screening, your doctor will typically recommend an annual low-dose CT scan to monitor your lung health year over year. Consistent yearly screening allows your care team to compare new images with prior scans, which makes it easier to spot changes early.
If you are already experiencing symptoms that concern you, your doctor may recommend a different type of imaging to evaluate those symptoms directly. Talking with your doctor about your personal risk factors is the best way to determine the right time to start.
Should Former Smokers Get Lung Cancer Screening?
If you quit smoking within the past 15 years and had at least a 20-pack-year history, you likely still meet the criteria for lung cancer screening. Lung cancer risk gradually declines over time, which is why screening guidelines continue to include former smokers for up to 15 years after they quit.
If you’re a former smoker, talk to your doctor about your full smoking history so they can help determine whether annual lung screening is right for you.
Can Non-Smokers Get Lung Cancer Screening?
Current screening guidelines are built around smoking history, since smoking remains the leading risk factor for lung cancer. However, lung cancer can still affect people who have never smoked, particularly those with a family history of the disease or significant exposure to radon, secondhand smoke or other airborne carcinogens.
If you don’t have a smoking history but have other risk factors, talk to your doctor. They can review your personal and family health history and help determine whether screening or another type of imaging is the best step for you.
What Are the Signs That You May Need Lung Cancer Screening?
You may need a low-dose CT scan to check for early signs of lung cancer if you’re experiencing any of the following symptoms:
- A persistent cough
- Chest pain
- Shortness of breath
- Coughing up blood
- Unexplained weight loss
Your doctor may recommend a different type of imaging to evaluate those symptoms directly. Either way, having an open conversation with a medical professional about what you’re experiencing can help you understand what testing makes the most sense for you.
Can Lung Cancer Be Diagnosed Without a CT Scan?
CT scans provide doctors with some of the clearest images for detecting lung abnormalities, which is why they play a central role in both screening and diagnosis. Other tools, such as chest X-rays can be used to detect lung cancer, but may miss details that a CT scan can detect.
In many cases, a low-dose lung CT scan can provide the detailed images needed to guide your care.
What Types of Lung Cancer Screening Are Available?
Low-dose CT is the screening method recommended by major health organizations for people at high risk of lung cancer. It’s specifically designed to use significantly less radiation than a standard chest CT while still producing images detailed enough to detect very small nodules.
A standard chest X-ray can sometimes pick up larger abnormalities, but it isn’t sensitive enough to reliably detect lung cancer at its earliest stages. For people who need screening every year, low-dose CT offers a safe way to get routine monitoring.
What Happens if Lung Cancer Screening Finds a Nodule?
When a nodule is found, a radiologist will review your scan and assign a Lung-RADS score based on the size and appearance of the finding. Your doctor will use that report to determine what follow-up, if any, makes sense for you.
In many cases, follow-up simply means having another scan in a few months to confirm the nodule is stable. Your doctor and imaging team can walk you through what was found and what to expect, so you have clear answers instead of unanswered questions.
Does Lung Cancer Screening Prevent Lung Cancer?
The goal of lung cancer screening is early detection, which gives you and your doctor the best possible chance to act quickly if something is found. Screening itself doesn’t prevent lung cancer from developing, but finding it when it’s smaller and more treatable can make a significant difference in your outcome and your options for care.
If you currently smoke, quitting remains the most effective way to lower your lung cancer risk. Pairing that step with annual screening gives you a well-rounded approach to protecting your lung health.
Are There Disadvantages of Lung Cancer Screening?
The most common concern with lung cancer screening is the possibility of a false positive result. This means the scan detects a nodule that, after follow-up testing, turns out to be benign. About one in four people who get screened will have a nodule detected, but more than 97% of those nodules are non-cancerous.
For some people, waiting for those follow-up results can feel stressful. The positive side is that screening gives you more information about your lung health, so you and your doctor know what to expect and can make informed decisions with greater peace of mind.
Schedule Your Low-Dose Lung CT Lung Cancer Scan
Getting clear answers about your lung health starts with choosing the right imaging partner. American Health Imaging is in-network with 99% of insurance plans and offers low-dose CT lung screening at up to 60% less than hospital-based imaging. Every scan is read by a board-certified radiologist who specializes in thoracic imaging.
With same-day and next-day appointments, extended hours and a 97% patient satisfaction rating, your imaging team makes it easy to fit screening into your schedule.
Talk to your doctor about imaging and schedule your low-dose lung CT scan with American Health Imaging today.