When Lung Cancer Screening is Needed – Diagnosis and Treatment

The lung cancer screening process is thorough, and at Milford Regional, involves a multidisciplinary team that collaborates for the best possible results.

By Theresa Arpin, MD, Pulmonologist

Lung cancer screening is a tool that health care providers use to assist with early detection of lung cancer. Each patient is evaluated using certain criteria to determine if lung cancer screening is appropriate for their care. The process is thorough, and at Milford Regional, involves a multidisciplinary team that collaborates for the best possible results.

Current guidelines suggest that lung cancer screening should be performed if a patient is between the ages of 50-80, are current smokers or former smokers who have quit for 15 years or less, and have smoked an average of one pack of cigarettes per day for 20 years or more. This is known as pack years and is calculated by the average pack-per-day use times the number of years you smoked. It is possible to get screened if you smoked less than one pack-per-day if you smoked long enough.

The test is performed annually if it comes back as normal. If there are abnormal findings seen, then earlier testing or additional tests may be required.

The screening uses a CT chest which is done with a lower radiation dose than usual CTs. Low-dose CT scans allows better visualization over a CXR, but reduces the exposure to radiation. It is a very effective and safe method for screening.

The lung cancer screening program at Milford Regional incorporates a shared decision-making model. This means that patients are informed of the benefits and risks and take an active role in determining if this test is right for them.

These tests are read by qualified radiologists and are read based on a standardized tool to make sure that the results are accurate. At Milford Regional we also have a lung cancer screening board that meets regularly to assure that the readings are quality and following the guidelines.

Sometimes when patients are screened for cancer, incidental findings can be discovered. These are things that may be unrelated to the initial test, but may require additional testing. Sometimes these findings end up being benign.

Once you have reached your 16^th straight year smoke-free or have aged out of the program, it is no longer necessary to get screened. Insurance companies should pay for screening tests for as long as you qualify.

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