What lung cancer screening tests are available to detect lung cancer early?
What lung cancer screening tests are available to detect lung cancer early?”I think I may have lung cancer. I have smoked for twenty years and have started coughing a lot recently. What screening tests are there for lung cancer?” Answer: Unfortunately, there are no screening tests for lung cancer. There are, however, diagnostic tests that can aid in diagnosis. A screening test looks for evidence of disease in a person that does not show any signs symptoms of the disease. The goal of a screening test is to detect a disease early, when it is in a curable stage. Examples of recommended screening tests would be a Pap smear to screen for cervical cancer or a colonoscopy for colon cancer. A diagnostic test is something that either confirms or rules out disease in a person that is presently showing signs and symptoms. Why Isn’t There a Screening Test for Lung Cancer For the average population, even those who are smokers and at an increased risk of developing lung cancer, there is not an FDA-a