CRMC Expert: Early Screening Important in Lung Cancer Prevention

Editors Note: This is Mens Health Week. We explore ways men can live longer and take care of themselves through tests, screenings and prevention.

When it comes to lung cancer, early screening is key in saving lives.

Of the four deadliest cancers for Americans, lung cancer ranks number one according to medical experts. Huff said there are between 130 and 160 thousand lung cancer deaths each year.

“It’s estimated that annual screening can decrease the risk of deaths from cancer by about 20%–that could save 30 to 60 thousand lives in America each year, with just that screening program alone,” Huff said. “So don’t wait for symptoms–although symptoms are important.”

Most people should start lung cancer screenings by age 50, especially if a patient is a long-term and frequent smoker.

“The requirements are be between the ages of 55 and 70 years old, be currently a smoker or have quit smoking, and have smoked at least a pack a day for 30 plus years,” Huff said. “The second category starts a little earlier at age 50 and that category is for someone who has smoked a pack a day for 20 plus years, but also has an additional risk factor. Risk factors being a previous history of cancer in the past, history of emphysema, pulmonary fibrosis, family history of lung cancer, or occasionally exposure to certain chemicals or substances in the past that can increase your cancer risk.”

Huff said that while lung cancer has a higher death rate, it is also the cancer we can best control. Huff said smoking is the biggest contributor to lung cancer, and that smoking cessation is the easiest way to prevent cancer, and allow your lungs to heal.

“Smoking cessation is definitely at the forefront of most primary care visits in patients who are smoking because if we can get the smoking out of the equation the genetics are usually not as prevalent as the smoking is,” Huff said.

Huff said he wanted to emphasize that while they are important, people should not wait for symptoms when it comes to screening your health.