Millions of Americans should be tested for lung cancer: recommendations have changed in the US

Nearly 5 million more Americans should be screened for lung cancer, according to updated recommendations from the American Cancer Society (ACS). Writes about this The Hill.

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This update is the first change to screening recommendations in a decade. The ACS now recommends annual screening with low-dose CT scans for men and women ages 50 to 80 who are current or former smokers and have 20 pack-years of smoking history.

A pack-year is equal to one pack, or approximately 20 cigarettes, per day for a year. For example, a person who smoked two packs a day for 10 years has a 20 pack-year history, as does someone who smoked one pack a day for 20 years.

On the subject: Alcohol and Oncology: How Drinking Affects Your Risk of Cancer

A CT scan uses X-rays to produce detailed images of a person's chest, including the lungs. This allows abnormal areas in the lungs that may be cancer to be detected before they cause any symptoms.

The previous recommendation from 2013 recommended screening for adults aged 55 to 74 years with at least 30 pack-years of smoking history, who are current smokers or who quit smoking less than 15 years ago.

However, now, the organization noted, “for individuals who previously smoked, the number of years that have passed since quitting smoking is not a criterion for starting or stopping screening.”

Although quitting smoking reduces the risk of developing lung cancer over time compared to continuing to smoke, the risk is still higher than for people who have never smoked.

Lung cancer is one of the most common cancers in both men and women and accounts for 20% of all cancer deaths.

Its death rate has fallen sharply in recent years, largely due to anti-smoking efforts, but it is still extremely deadly.

The ACS estimates that in 2023, about 240 new cases of lung cancer will be diagnosed and about 000 people will die from the disease. Approximately 127% of all cases occur due to cigarette smoking.

Many lung cancer deaths could be prevented if people got lung screening every year, according to the ACS.

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The ACS recommendations now align more closely with those of the independent US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), which recommends annual low-dose CT scans to screen for lung cancer in adults aged 50 to 80 years with 20 pack-years of smoking history.

Because the task force approved the scan, most insurers must cover it without charging patients. However, the USPSTF recommendation only applies to those who currently smoke or have quit smoking within the last 15 years.

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