Can lung cancer be detected early?
Yes. Many early lung cancers are found as a result of tests that are done for other medical problems. But symptoms of lung cancer often do not appear until the disease is advanced. Only about 15 percent of lung cancer cases are found in the early stages or before the cancer has spread. Prompt attention to symptoms, leading to early diagnosis and treatment, can result in a cure for some patients. For others, prompt attention to symptoms can help people live longer and have better control of their symptoms.
Yes. Many early lung cancers are found as a result of tests that are done for other medical problems. But symptoms of lung cancer often do not appear until the disease is advanced. Only about 15% of lung cancer cases are found in the early stages or before the cancer has spread. Prompt attention to symptoms, leading to early diagnosis and treatment, can result in a cure for some patients. For others, prompt attention to symptoms can help people live longer and have better control of their symptoms.
• Answer: Unfortunately, there is no test to detect early lung cancer yet. But a new technique called spiral or helical low-dose CT scanning has been successful in detecting early lung cancers in smokers and former smokers when combined with other noninvasive tests. It has not yet been shown whether this test will actually save lives or improve treatment. For one, it often finds abnormalities that require testing and surgery but turn out not to be cancer. It’s also uncertain when and how often such testing should be done. Hopefully, the National Lung Screening Trial — scheduled to end in 2009 — will yield definitive answers on whether or not this test is an appropriate way to detect lung cancer early. Until then, talk to your doctor about whether this test is right for you.
Once symptoms appear, lung cancer is often found to be widespread or advanced. Because chest X-rays are not indicated for lung cancer screening, it is very important that patients with characteristic symptoms see their doctor promptly. Smokers, who often attribute a persistent cough to “smoker’s cough,” should see their physician on a regular basis.
