
Low-dose CT screening for lung cancer can detect the disease early, when it is still curable.
This story was originally published in January of 2017.
Since the 1950s experts have known about the link between smoking and lung cancer, but for decades, there was no reliable and safe way to screen those who were at highest risk of developing the disease.
That all changed in 2011, when the results of the government-sponsored multicenter National Lung Screening Trial (NLST) were published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) showing that for current and former smokers at highest risk of developing the disease, the use of low-dose CT screening was associated with a reduction in lung cancer-related death by 20%.
Based on those findings, Memorial Sloan Kettering — like several other hospitals — launched a Lung Cancer Screening Program. Yet many of the people who would benefit most from screening are still not getting it.
Bernard Park and Michelle Ginsberg, who together lead MSK’s screening program, hope to change that. We spoke with Dr. Park, a thoracic surgeon, and Dr. Ginsberg, a radiologist, about some of the myths and misconceptions surrounding lung cancer screening, and about what smokers and former smokers should know about getting screened.
Myth: If I quit smoking, I am no longer at risk and don’t need to undergo lung cancer screening.
Based on the research, screening is recommended not only for current smokers but also for former smokers who have quit smoking less than 15 years ago, depending on the extent of their tobacco exposure.
More specifically, screening is recommended for people who are between the ages of 55 and 80 and have smoked the equivalent of 30 or more “pack-years.” The pack-years figure is calculated by multiplying the number of years smoked by the number of packs smoked per day. For example, one pack a day for 30 years equals 30 pack years, while two packs a day for 20 years equals 40 pack years.
Back to topMyth: Lung cancer screening is still considered experimental and is not part of standard care.
After the NEJM study, screening experts realized that the test was beneficial for the high-risk study population of current and former smokers. Lung cancer screening is recommended for these patients and is covered by Medicare and Medicaid, as well as by most insurance companies.
Although the NLST study only screened people three times over two years, MSK experts recommend that people undergo annual low-dose CT scans for as long as they meet the screening requirements.
Back to topMyth: Lung cancer screening has a high rate of false positives, leading to many unnecessary procedures.
“All cancer screenings carry some risk of false positives, but it is true that the rate is slightly higher for lung cancer screening,” Dr. Ginsberg says. Usually, a false positive means there was something found on the scan that requires you to undergo additional imaging scans. It doesn’t mean you’ll necessarily have to undergo other, more invasive procedures, she notes.
Dr. Park adds that the chance that someone undergoes an invasive intervention such as a needle biopsy for something that is not cancer is less than 5%.
Back to topMyth: The scans used in lung cancer screening expose you to dangerous radiation.
The low-dose CT scans that are used for lung cancer screening have about five times less radiation than conventional CT scans. For the average person, even a regular CT scan is associated with a very small risk of possibly developing a future cancer — perhaps about 0.05%, or about one in 2,000. For people who meet the screening requirements, that potential risk is far outweighed by the benefit, which could save your life.
Furthermore, the test does not require an IV or any injections of contrast dye. There is no preparation, such as what is required for a colonoscopy.
Back to topMyth: If lung cancer is found, it will be too late for effective treatment.
“The whole point of screening is to catch the cancer at its earliest stage, before there are symptoms,” Dr. Park says. “Early lung cancer is curable. People should think of this test the same way they think of getting their cholesterol checked, which is something that enables them to intervene early and prevent coronary artery disease.”
According to the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer, the cure rate for patients diagnosed with stage IA lung cancer — the very form of early stage disease that screening was designed to detect — is more than 75% over a five-year period.
Back to topMyth: Lung cancer screening is time consuming.
“We’re all busy, and this can feel like one more thing you have to fit into your schedule,” Dr. Park says. Undergoing the screening may require some effort, he adds, because at some centers it requires two appointments. However, at MSK, only one visit is required.
Before having the scan, you first meet with a licensed independent practitioner (a nurse practitioner, physician, or physician’s assistant) in order to ensure that you are eligible and without symptoms of more advanced disease, and to answer your questions and concerns. At MSK, people who qualify for screening can have the test immediately.
The actual screening process takes only a few minutes, Dr. Park says, and results are usually available within 24 hours.
Dr. Park says he believes that the biggest barrier to undergoing screening may be anxiety.
“People are very afraid that something will be found,” he says. “They’re anxious leading up to the test, and until the moment that I tell them that everything is OK. It’s important to emphasize that the vast majority of people who undergo the screening don’t have any findings of cancer, but for those who do, this test can save their lives.”
To learn about making an appointment with MSK’s Lung Cancer Screening Program, you can call 646-497-9163. MSK offers screening appointments at most locations in Manhattan, Nassau, Commack, Basking Ridge, Bergen, Monmouth, and Westchester.
Back to topComments
SAYED HOQUE
Jan 27, 2017 • 1:19 AM
Memorial Sloan Kettering
Jan 27, 2017 • 9:46 AM
In reply to I would like the get the new… by SAYED HOQUE
Dear Sayed, if you would like to make an appointment with one of our specialists regarding what treatment options may be right for you, please call our Physician Referral Service at 800-525-2225. If you are unable to come to MSK, we recommend that you follow up with your current oncologist to discuss possible next steps in your care. Thanks you for reaching out to us.
Patricia
Mar 17, 2017 • 12:37 AM
Memorial Sloan Kettering
Mar 17, 2017 • 10:03 AM
In reply to Are PET Scans more effective… by Patricia
Dear Patricia, PET scans and CT scans look for different things. CT scans show structural changes in the anatomy and PET scans show metabolic changes in the tissue, which might indicate that cells are not functioning normally. Many centers, including MSK, offer combined PET-CT scans. We recommend you discuss this with your healthcare team. If you are interested in scheduling a consultation at MSK, you can call 800-525-2225 or go to https://www.mskcc.org/experience/become-patient/appointment for more information on making an appointment. Thank you for your comment, and best wishes to you.
Jes
Apr 28, 2017 • 9:10 AM
Dear Jes, if you meet the requirements for being “high risk,” it is possible to self-refer and make an appointment directly to be screened. You can learn more about our screening program, including the requirements for being at high-risk and the phone number to call for an appointment. here: https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/risk-assessment-screening/screening/l…
Thank you for your comment, and best wishes to you.
Ana
Feb 7, 2018 • 7:01 AM
Dear Ana, we’re sorry to hear about your mother-in-law’s diagnosis. The majority of people who get the more extensive MSK-IMPACT gene test have advanced cancer, but we routinely test people with non-small-cell lung cancer for a smaller number of mutations that can be targeted with approved drugs. You can learn more about this approach here:
https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/types/lung/diagnosis/genetic-testing
If your mother-in-law is interested in coming here for treatment or a second opinion, she can call 800-525-2225 or go to https://www.mskcc.org/experience/become-patient/appointment for more information on making an appointment. Thank you for your comment, and best wishes to you and your family.
Mahala Vann
Apr 28, 2018 • 3:50 AM
Memorial Sloan Kettering
Apr 30, 2018 • 8:08 AM
In reply to After the first appointment… by Mahala Vann
Dear Mahala, we recommend that you call our Patient Access Service to discuss this. They can be reached at 800-525-2225. Thank you for your comment.
Ray
Nov 4, 2018 • 8:38 AM
Dear Ray, to learn more about our Lung Cancer Screening Program, you can call 646-888-2007. Thank you for your comment.
Cindy
Nov 15, 2018 • 7:01 AM
Dear Cindy, Medicare does cover lung cancer screening for those who are eligible. You can see a list of Medicare’s eligibility requirements for screening here: https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/lung-cancer-screening
Thank you for your comment.
Dorothea Salzberg
Nov 15, 2018 • 1:09 PM
Memorial Sloan Kettering
Nov 16, 2018 • 9:46 AM
In reply to My daughter is 53 and is… by Dorothea salzberg
Dear Dorothea, this is something your daughter should discuss with her doctor. It’s possible that she may be able to get screened, but that insurance will not cover it. It’s important to weigh the pros and cons of screening with the help of a healthcare professional. Thank you for your comment, and best wishes to both of you.
Leslie Barshop
Nov 15, 2018 • 8:22 PM
The screening criteria is not sufficient. I stopped smoking 30 years ago and was diagnosed with non-small cell. I was diagnosed early, by accident. I know two other women who also stopped smoking 30 years ago. However, by the time they were diagnosed it was too late. They each died within 3 months of being diagnosed
Leslie Barshop
Nov 15, 2018 • 8:25 PM
I would like the get the new innovative treatment for lung cancer as I am a lung cancer survivor who had a lung surgery 7 months age, even though I am not with MSK