Screening for smokers

Are you currently a smoker, or have you ever been? If the answer is yes, then there are important health screenings that you may qualify to have completed. Smoking increases the risk of many health complications, including cancer. Cigarette smoking is the leading risk factor for lung cancer and is linked to 80-90% of lung cancer deaths. The good news is that screenings are available to detect these health issues early, when they are most treatable. The recommended lung cancer screening method is a low-dose CT (LDCT) scan of the lungs, once every year. LDCTs for lung cancer screening are non-invasive imaging tests that are quick, painless, and lifesaving. They can detect abnormal areas of the lungs that may be cancer. If abnormalities are detected and identified as early-stage cancer, treatments can begin sooner. Treating lung cancer early can improve effectiveness and lead to better outcomes. Lung cancer screening is recommended for those aged 50 to 80 years old who are current smokers or have quit smoking in the past 15 years and have no current symptoms of lung cancer. To qualify, the patient must have a smoking history of 20 pack-years. A pack-year is equivalent to smoking one pack, or about 20 cigarettes, per day for a year. A 20 pack-year history would be equivalent to smoking a pack a day for 20 years, smoking two packs a day for 10 years, or half a pack per day for 40 years. In addition to an LDCT scan for lung cancer screening, men aged 65 to 75 with a history of smoking are recommended to have a one-time screening ultrasound for an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). The aorta is the main artery that supplies blood to the body, and smoking increases the risk of an aneurysm, an abnormal bulge in the wall of the artery, developing. An AAA rupture can be fatal, but a screening ultrasound of the aorta can detect abnormalities before rupture occurs, allowing them to be monitored and treated. If you're at an increased risk of developing lung cancer or other health complications due to smoking, speak to your primary care provider. They can help determine what screening options are right for you. If you are still currently smoking, there are different options to assist in helping you cut back or quit. No matter how long you've been smoking, quitting can reduce your risk for lung cancer and other chronic diseases. Leslie Scott is a doctor of family medicine with the Caughman Health Center.