"I think I may have lung cancer. I have smoked for twenty years and have started coughing a lot recently. What screening tests are there for lung cancer?"
A screening test looks for evidence of disease in a person that does not show any signs symptoms of the disease. The goal of a screening test is to detect a disease early, when it is in a curable stage. Examples of recommended screening tests would be a Pap smear to screen for cervical cancer or a colonoscopy for colon cancer.
A diagnostic test is something that either confirms or rules out disease in a person that is presently showing signs and symptoms.
Why Isn't There a Screening Test for Lung Cancer
For the average population, even those who are smokers and at an increased risk of developing lung cancer, there is not an FDA-approved or recommended test to screen for lung cancer. Many wonder: If so many people are at risk, then why not regularly screen them? There a few different reasons, but it mainly comes down to there not being a test that effectively and consistently detects lung cancer early enough to where it improves survival outcome. While lung cancer may be detected by screening tests in some cases, no studies support that it will prevent the person from dying from lung cancer.Spiral CT Scans Show Promise as a Lung Cancer Screening Tool
Though not backed as an "official" lung cancer screening tool, a spiral CT scan can be used in some instances to screen for lung cancer before symptoms appear. It is an imaging test that is like a regular CT scan, but emits less radiation and takes much less time to perform. Sounds like the perfect screening tool, but it is not without flaws. CT scans can often show suspicious areas in the lungs that look like cancerous lesions or tumors, but aren't. This leads to potential unnecessary testing that can carry major health risks.The cost and coverage of a CT scan by your health insurance provider is another point to consider. Your insurance provider is not likely to cover the cost of an unwarranted spiral CT scan. These scans are routinely used to diagnose and stage lung cancer, not screen for it. In a diagnostic setting, the scan would most likely be covered by a health insurance plan. However, in elective cases, it is usually not covered and you would be responsible for the cost. Spiral CT scans can be as little as $300 to as much as $2500, depending on where you get your scan and other factors.
In summary, many medical centers and outpatient clinic do offer these scans, often targeting smokers in there advertising, but you should carefully weigh the risks and benefits before making the decision to get one.
What To Do If You Think You Have Lung Cancer
If you think you may have lung cancer or at risk of developing lung cancer, it is important that you see your doctor. Together, you can evaluate the risks and benefits of being screened and to also assess your lung cancer risk.Additional reading from the About.com Guide to Lung Cancer:
