Where do I get screened?
Ask your doctor or find a Screening Center of Excellence near you.
What happens to the scan results?
The results from your lung cancer scan will be sent to the doctor who referred you for screening. Your doctor will review the results of the scan and will discuss if any follow up is needed. Because a spiral LDCT [...]
What should I expect when getting scanned?
Lung cancer screening is done using an imaging machine to produce a low-dose spiral (or helical) CT (Computed Tomography) scan of the chest. This scan uses a series of x-rays to show the shape, size and location of anything abnormal [...]
Why should I get screened?
Once you have talked to your doctor about risks and benefits, it might be useful to talk about why you may or may not want to be screened. Some questions to consider include: What are my reasons for wanting to [...]
What about radiation?
You will be exposed to low levels of radiation during the test. This level of radiation is more than an x-ray but much lower than a regular LDCT scan that you might have if you have symptoms of cancer. To [...]
How often should I be screened?
Talk to your doctor about the results of your first screening to determine what you need to do next. For most people, a yearly scan is recommended. Lung nodules, which are spots on the lung, are common. Some people screened [...]
What are my first steps toward screening?
Contact your doctor and discuss your concerns. Once the two of you have made a decision to be screened, your doctor will provide a referral to a local screening center who may be a member of LCA’s Screening Centers of [...]
What are the risks?
Cancer screening tests are not perfect. Some cancers can be missed (false negative) and some may look like a cancer when they are not (false positive). There is a small amount of radiation used in the test.
What are the benefits?
Studies have shown that screening those at high risk with LDCT scans before symptoms appear can find lung cancer early when it is easier to treat and more likely to be cured. In addition, lung cancer screening might also show [...]
Who should be screened for lung cancer?
Currently, lung cancer screening is recommended (and covered by most insurance plans and Medicare) for a specific high-risk population. Individuals who meet these criteria are at the highest risk, but there is ongoing research to determine who else may have [...]