Lung Cancer Screening Protocols
The American Cancer Society does not recommend tests to check for lung cancer in people who are at average risk. But their cancer screening guidelines have been developed for people at high risk of lung cancer due to cigarette smoking. Screening might be right for you if you are all of the following:
- 55 to 74 years of age
- In fairly good health
- Have at least a 30-pack-per-year smoking history AND are either still smoking or have quit smoking within the last 15 years. (A pack-year is the number of cigarette packs smoked each day multiplied by the number of years a person has smoked. Someone who smoked a pack of cigarettes per day for 30 years has a 30 pack-year smoking history, as does someone who smoked two packs a day for 15 years.)
The American Cancer Society’s screening guidelines for people at a higher risk for lung cancer is based on the National Lung Screening Trial. These guidelines recommend yearly lung cancer screening with a low dose CT scan for people who are 55 to 74 years old, are in fairly good health, and who also meet the following conditions:
- Current smokers or smokers who have quit in the past 15 years.
- At least a 30 pack-year smoking history. (This is the number of years you smoked multiplied by the number of packs of cigarettes per day. For example, someone who smoked 2 packs per day for 15 years [2 x 15 = 30] has 30 pack-years of smoking. A person who smoked 1 pack per day for 30 years [1 x 30 = 30] also has 30 pack-years of smoking.)
- Have received counseling to quit smoking if they are current smokers.and
- Have been told by their doctor about the possible benefits, limits and harms of screening with LDCT scans.
- Have a facility where they can go that has experience in lung cancer screening and treatment.
Think you’re alone? You’re not. To learn more about the stories of people we’ve represented in lawsuits because their doctors failed to diagnose their cancer in a timely manner, click here.
The Medical Team We Use to Investigate Your Case: We have longstanding relationships with many of the top medical experts in this field. We hire these experts to review your medical records and test results, and determine whether your cancer should have been diagnosed sooner. If you suspect you’ve been the victim of your doctors’ failure to make a timely diagnosis of your cancer, contact us for a free case evaluation.
Taking Care of Your Family: If you’re worried about who will take care of your family should your cancer prove fatal, or if you’re worried about how you’ll pay for your medical bills, learn more about the compensation you might be able to recover if your doctor failed to make a timely diagnosis of your cancer. See the results* we have obtained for our clients due to their doctors’ failure to diagnose their cancer early.
*Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
