LUNG CANCER SCREENINGS
WHAT IS LUNG CANCER SCREENING?
Lung cancer screening is a regular preventive health check, like a mammogram or a colonoscopy. A lung cancer screening checks your lungs while you are healthy and looks for any changes from year to year.
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If your doctor recommends lung cancer screening, it doesn't mean they think you have cancer. In fact, most people who get screened do not have cancer.
WHO SHOULD GET SCREENED FOR LUNG CANCER?
Screening is recommended for people who are at high risk.
You would be considered high risk if you meet all of the following criteria:
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Are 50 to 80 years old
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Are currently smoking or have quit within the last 15 years
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Have a smoking history of ≥20 pack-years
WHY SCREEN FOR LUNG CANCER?
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A lung cancer screening may find nothing, or it may find something before you have symptoms.
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If a lung cancer screening finds something unusual, it may be able to find it at an early stage.
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Survival rates are better when lung cancer is found at an early stage
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An LDCT scan is recommended as part of a yearly health check for people at high risk for lung cancer.
WHAT IS A PACK-YEAR?
To find out your number of pack-years,
MULTIPLY
number of cigarette packs smoked per day
(1 pack = 20 cigarettes)
BY
number of years you have smoked
IS IT COVERED BY MY INSURANCE?
Most insurance plans and Medicare help pay for recommended lung cancer screening tests. Lung cancer screening tests may be covered by your health insurance policy without a deductible or co-pay.
For more information about Medicare coverage, visit www.medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). TTY users should call 1 (877) 486-2048.
Check with your insurance plan to find out what benefits are covered for lung cancer screening.
HAVE MORE QUESTIONS?
Contact your healthcare team to learn more and find out if lung cancers screenings are right for you.
Content was adapted from the screenyourlungs.org materials and the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF)
