San Juan Regional Health

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) has released new recommendations on screening for lung cancer in people who have no signs or symptoms in an effort to detect lung cancer early and improve outcomes. The USPSTF recommends that anyone ages 50 to 80 who is at high risk for lung cancer because of their smoking history should be screened yearly using a low-dose computed tomography (CT) scan. 

San Juan Regional Medical Center offers screenings for lung cancer via a low dose CT scan. It’s a quick and simple process. In fact, since it’s a low dose CT, no contrast material is needed. The scan normally takes between 5 to 10 minutes total.

Lung cancer is the second most common cancer and the leading cause of cancer death in the U.S. Smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer, accounting for about 90% of all lung cancer cases. The median age of diagnosis of lung cancer is 70 years. If you are between 50 and 80 years old, and are a current or former smoker, talk to your doctor about your risk of lung cancer to see if you should be screened. Most lung cancers do not cause any symptoms until they have spread. Early-stage lung cancer has a better prognosis and is more amenable to treatment.