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Lung Cancer: Are You at Risk?

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Veteran receiving a chest exam from doctorDid you know November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month? It's the perfect time to consider asking your doctor to be screened. If lung cancer is found early, it's more likely to be successfully treated. Remember, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the United States. Take advantage of the screening that can help at an early stage, when it's easier to treat.

The earlier the better

In most people, lung cancer doesn't cause symptoms until it spreads to other parts of the body, which makes it harder to treat. Talk to your doctor and see if you're a candidate for a screening.

Possible warning signs

Lung cancer rarely has symptoms, when it does, it's good to know what to look for. If signs of the disease start to appear, some symptoms can include:

Who should be screened?

Screening for lung cancer is recommended for Veterans who:

  • Are 55 - 80 years old



What happens when you are screened?

The only recommended screening test for lung cancer is low-dose computed tomography (also called a low-dose CT scan, or LDCT). LDCT is a painless, non-invasive imaging test, performed in an outpatient setting where you will lie flat on your back for a few minutes while the CT machine takes images of your lungs. In the test, an X-ray machine scans your body in a spiral path. This machine is linked to a computer, which processes the scanned information and creates a series of detailed images. The scan only takes a few minutes and is not painful.

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Read More

Screening for Lung Cancer (VA National Center for Disease Prevention and Wellness Promotion)

Lung Cancer Screening Saves Veterans Lives

Who Should Be Screened for Lung Cancer? (CDC)

Created November 4, 2019