All articles tagged with #smoking history
A 75-year-old who quit smoking years earlier learned he had stage 1 lung cancer via a routine Medicare-backed low-dose CT screening, underwent robotic surgery and targeted therapy, and remains cancer-free for now; his case highlights that lung cancer screening can save lives but remains underused due to complex eligibility rules, stigma, and access barriers, prompting calls to broaden guidelines while balancing potential downsides.
The American Cancer Society has issued new guidelines for lung cancer screening, expanding the criteria beyond just cigarette smokers. The guidelines now recommend that individuals between the ages of 50-80 with a 20-pack-year history or more should receive a yearly low-dose CT scan to screen for lung cancer. This change is estimated to increase the number of eligible individuals by about 5 million and could prevent an additional 21% of lung cancer deaths compared to the current recommendations. However, insurance coverage for these screenings may vary, so it is important to consult with a primary care provider to determine eligibility and coverage.