Lung Cancer Screening for Current and Previous Smokers

The US Preventive Services Task Force came out with a recommendation last year for smokers.  Cancer is the second leading cause of death and lung cancer is the leading type of cancer deaths for both men and women.  One reason is that most lung cancers are not detected until they have spread.  The new recommendation is that heavy smokers aged 55-80 and those who have quit smoking in the past 15 years should have annual low dose CAT scans to look for potentially curable lung cancers.  Once someone has quit smoking for 15 years, the screening can be stopped.

 

Google the USPSTF guidelines for more details.

Celebration of HealthAssociation website