A Few Words on Lung Cancer

My dad doesn't smoke but this last year he was diagnosed with lung cancer. I suspect this was caused from radiation he received as a teenager in the 1950's. It's certainly not just a smoker's disease, but by-in-large, those who smoke are the ones who typically get lung cancer (among other things like bladder cancer or COPD).

Ok, don't give up on this article just yet, if you think this is just another forum to scare you into stop smoking, read on because this is a forum to introduce you to an idea that could potentially save your life.

I expect that most people who grew up smoking, (and I say that loosely to mean people who started young and didn't quit), just expect (and dread) to one day visit with their doctor about that terrible word-cancer.

Until recently, this usually was a terminal diagnosis. This is how smokers died!

The reason that it is so deadly is that we haven't had a good way, or really an affordable way, to screen for early disease. What that meant is that by the time we found a lung cancer, it had likely progressed to a stage that was hard to treat-not curable.

Thankfully, we have new guidelines on lung cancer screening from the US Preventative Services Task Force. Even better, is that most insurance companies and Medicare are now on board and will pay! The screening test I am talking about is having a CT scan of the lungs yearly if you are at high risk.

What it boils down to is that if you are a smoker, you don't have to just wait for that dreaded visit. You can be proactive about it and get screened (and start early treatment if needed).

The guidelines recommend yearly CT scan if you have a 30 pack year history of smoking. A pack year of smoking is equivalent to smoking one pack a day for a year. As an example, a person who smokes 2 packs a day for 15 years has a 30 pack year history. Similarly someone who smokes 1/2 pack a day for 60 years also has a 30 pack year history.

More specifically, the guidelines suggest that if you have a 30 pack year history of smoking, are still a smoker or have recently quit (within the last 15 years), then you should have a yearly CT scan.

This recommendation to screen yearly continues until you are smoke free for 15 years.

This is something that can save or significantly extend your life! People who follow these screening guidelines can find cancer early which is much more treatable-even curable in many cases.

See your provider to discuss your risk.

I feel a word of common sense is in order-this by no means is a reason to keep smoking! There are so many benefits to smoking cessation, I can't even begin. But that's another article.

So my advice? Stop smoking! This is the best way to decrease the risk of lung cancer. If you still smoke-work on and go in and talk to your health care provider about lung cancer screening. Be safe. Be smart and as always-see you at the clinic!