Lung Cancer Screening: An Overview
Lung cancer screening is the process in which doctors search for the disease before a person exhibits symptoms. This can help doctors detect lung cancer at an early stage. When abnormal tissue or cancer is found early, it may be easier to treat. Without lung cancer screening, by the time symptoms appear, lung cancer may have begun to spread.
Lung cancer research scientists are trying to better understand which people are more likely to get certain
types of lung cancer. They also study the things we do and the things around us to see if they cause lung cancer. This information helps doctors recommend who should get lung cancer screening, which screening tests should be used, and how often the tests should be conducted.
It is important to remember that your doctor does not necessarily think you have cancer if he or she suggests a lung cancer screening test. Lung cancer screening tests are performed when you have no
symptoms of lung cancer.
General Testing Information for Lung Cancer Screening
Some lung cancer screening tests are used because they have been shown to be helpful both in finding cancers early and decreasing the chance of dying from these cancers. Other tests are used because they have been shown to find cancer in some people; however, it has not been proven in clinical trials that use of these lung cancer screening tests will decrease the risk of dying from lung cancer.
If a lung cancer screening test result is abnormal, you may need to have more tests done to find out if you have lung cancer. These are called diagnostic tests
(see Lung Cancer Diagnosis).
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