Who Should Consider Lung Cancer Screening?

Who Should Consider Lung Cancer Screening?

作者：Jason Chu，医学博士
专业: 肺药

Each year, more than 220,000 people are diagnosed with lung cancer in the U.S. – accounting for about 13% of new cancer cases. 然而,7 of 10 who have been diagnosed with the disease will die from it, making it the most lethal form of cancer among both men 和 women. 事实上，更多 people die from lung cancer each year than breast, colon 和 prostate 癌症相结合.

However, like all cancers, early diagnosis gives you the best possible chance of treating 和 surviving lung cancer – 和 that starts with knowing your risks 和 screening appropriately.

Should I Be Screened for Lung Cancer?

根据 U.S. Preventive 服务 Task Force, yearly lung cancer screening is recommended for people who:

• Have a history of heavy smoking*, 和
• Are current smokers or have quit within the past 15 years, 和
• Are between 55 和 80 years of age

* Smoking is measured in “pack years.(包装年数=数量 of packs per day multiplied by years smoked.一个人被认为是 be a heavy smoker if they have 30 pack years or more, which can be smoking one pack per day for 30 years or two packs per day for 15 years. 而 this group is at the highest risk for developing lung cancer, other individuals who may consider screening include:

• Those who are former heavy smokers
• Those with a history of lung cancer
• Those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• Those with a family history of lung cancer
• Those who have been exposed to asbestos

For those who are at increased risk, screening begins with a low-dose CT scan of the chest, which is available at Washington Hospital. 国家 Lung Screening Trial results show that this screening can reduce your risk of dying from lung cancer by 15- 20%.

万一他们发现了什么呢?

First 和 foremost, don’t panic. 无论是乳腺癌， colon cancer or lung cancer, screenings are intended to catch certain diseases before symptoms arise. These early stages are also the most treatable.

Then you’ll undergo a number of tests to help determine your next 步骤包括：

Tests to determine whether cancer is present. To confirm diagnosis, your doctor will want to rule out the possibility 其他条件. This may include a chest x-ray to look for abnormal masses, sputum cytology to look for cancerous cells in the sputum you cough up, or a biopsy of the tissue of any abnormal nodules.

Tests to determine what kind of cancer you have. Not all cancers behave the 同样的方式. Nor do they respond to treatment the 同样的方式. Knowing what kind of cancer we’re dealing with helps inform 治疗方案. This increases the effectiveness of therapies because it’s targeted toward a specific cancer mutation.

Tests to determine the extent of your cancer. Knowing to what extent cancer has affected the body is commonly indicated 从第0阶段到第4阶段. Cancer that is limited to a lung is said to be at a lower stage than cancer that has spread to other parts of the body. Where 和 how aggressive a cancer is helps better target therapies.