Chest CT Scans Could Help in Early Detection of Cancer in Smokers

Undergoing yearly chest CT scan to detect lung cancer could save the lives of thousands of smokers who have smoked a pack of cigarettes over the last three decades with the American Cancer Society recommending that even those who have managed to kick the habit over the last 15 years, but had a similar habit before quitting, should ask for the CT scans. Researchers with the organization said that people between 55 and 74 years of age who are viewed at a high risk of suffering from lung cancer should undergo the scans.

They added that yearly scans could help doctors detect lung cancer at an early stage and allow them to provide effective treatment and predicted that they could save the life of at least one in every five persons who undergo the scans.

“Now that there is rigorous evidence supporting the value of screening for lung cancer with low-dose computed-tomography, it is important that the implementation of lung cancer screening proceeds in a manner that is focused on maximizing benefits and minimizing harms. As with other guidelines for cancer screening, we can expect that this initial guideline will be revised as new data become available”, the researchers wrote in their report.

Source-Medindia