Everything you need to know about lung cancer screening

Lung cancer remains one of the primary causes of death in both men and women not only in India but across the world. There are several reasons why this happens. One of the most important reasons out of all the others is that lung cancer is mostly detected at an advanced stage. So it becomes very difficult to treat even for the most experienced of cancer experts. This is why it becomes all the more important for high-risk individuals, people who have a higher chance of getting the disease due to their lifestyle, to get screened at a cancer specialist hospital.

Research in this field has provided great revelations. High-risk individuals, both men and women, who get themselves screened through low-dose computed tomography or LDCT, are at a much lower risk of getting the disease than those that don’t get screened. The death rate is also lower in individuals who undergo LDCT screening. X-rays can only reveal so much. And this is why LDCT is more effective in diagnosing cancer and helping people get the right treatment at an early stage.

Why is lung cancer screening so important?

As already discussed, lung cancer is amongst the biggest causes of deaths in India. The reason for so many deaths is late detection. When the disease is detected at a stage where doctors can do very little to treat the patient, the chances of death become higher. This is why early detection of lung cancer is given so importance. By screening high-risk individuals detecting cancer at an early stage, we give doctors a lot more time and room to treat patients. The success of lung cancer treatment is directly proportional to how early the disease is detected. People who know they are at high risk should come out themselves and get themselves screened so that they can get the best treatment possible. Authorities can also play a huge role in collecting data of high risk individuals and referring them to cancer specialist hospitals for LDCT screening.

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How does LDCT screening work?

Lung cancer screening is a set of tests that are used for early detection of the disease. This is mostly used in high-risk individuals who don’t show any signs and symptoms of lung cancer. Over the years, screening has proved to be a great way for detecting lung cancer at an early stage. When the disease is diagnosed at a very early stage, it becomes easier for cancer experts to prepare a treatment plan based on the specific needs of the patient.

Detecting lung cancer early has always been very difficult. LDCT screening is today the best way of doing so. There are other screening methods in the pipeline but there are several questions still surrounding their adoption, use, and accuracy. Also, it needs to be seen whether these are economically viable or not and whether or not they can identify the disease early enough. So until these doubts are still there, LDCT screening remains the go-to screening test for early detection of lung cancer.

Risks of LDCT screening

In addition to its benefits, there are several risks associated with lung cancer screening as well. LDCT screening can sometimes provide false-positive results. This means that it can suggest the presence of cancer in a perfectly healthy individual. Due to false-positive results, the individual may have to undergo surgeries and other treatment that they don’t need. This can increase the risks significantly.

Screening is also exposed to overdiagnosis. This means that it can detect cancer that wouldn’t have caused any trouble to the patient in the future. Overdiagnosis also results in treatment that an individual doesn’t need.

Another risk associated with lung cancer screening is the increased chances of a healthy individual getting cancer due to repeated exposure to radiation.

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This is why LDCT screening is only recommended for those who are at a higher risk of getting the disease in the future due to their lifestyle. Their age and smoking history are usually the best ways to find out whether or not they are at high risk. These people don’t have a health problem but can develop this disease due to smoking.