Screening Guidelines for the Early Detection of Lung Cancer
Led by a multidisciplinary team of highly skilled medical professionals, Loyola Medicine is a leader in the diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer. As with any cancer type, early detection and prevention help improve your cancer treatment options and increase your chances for lung cancer survival.
Loyola follows the American Cancer Society’s recommendations for lung cancer screening for individuals at high risk due to cigarette smoking. You may be a candidate for screening, if you:
- Are 50 to 80 years of age
- Have a smoking histoy of at least 20 pack-years (this is the average number of packs smoked per day times the number of years smoked)
- Currently smoke or have quit smoking within the past 15 years
Loyola’s Lung Cancer Screening Program
Screening for lung cancer means testing for cancer before you exhibit any symptoms. Loyola is committed to early detection of lung cancer, and invites smokers and former smokers to enroll in our lung cancer screening program.
Lung cancer screening has been shown to reduce the number of deaths from lung cancer by 20%.
Screenings are being held at the following locations:
During the screening, Loyola’s doctors will perform the gold standard test of lung cancer screening: low-dose spiral CT scan (LDCT scan). LDCT is a procedure that uses low-dose radiation to take a series of very detailed pictures of your lungs.
It uses an X-ray machine that scans the body in a spiral path. The pictures are made by a computer and linked to the X-ray machine. Screening is not recommended if you are at average risk of lung cancer.
If you are concerned about the possibility of lung cancer due to a history of smoking or screening results, contact your primary care physician who can make additional recommendations for your specific concerns.
To learn more about lung cancer screening, we encourage you to visit cancer.gov and cancer.org.
Comprehensive Evaluation of Lung Cancer Risks
Loyola highly recommends a risk assessment when your personal history indicates a high risk for lung cancer. By knowing your risks, you may be able to take steps to reduce them.
Our cancer risk assessment and prevention program provides comprehensive risk assessment, preventive treatment and access to clinical trials through a multidisciplinary approach, including access to specialists within Loyola's highly regarded academic medical center.
