Quit Smoking? You May Still Need Lung Cancer Screening

If you quit smoking years ago, you may assume your lung cancer risk disappeared along with the packs of cigarettes.

Unfortunately, that’s not always the case.

While quitting smoking is one of the most important steps you can take to improve your health, former smokers remain at increased risk for lung cancer years after they quit – which is why medical experts continue to recommend annual low-dose CT lung cancer screening for many former smokers who meet certain risk criteria.

Low-dose CT screening helps detect lung cancer before symptoms appear, when treatment is often most effective and outcomes are generally better.

Should Former Smokers Be Screened for Lung Cancer?

Yes, many former smokers should still be screened.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force reports that annual lung cancer screening with a low-dose CT scan is recommended for adults aged 50 to 80 who have at least a 20 pack-year smoking history and currently smoke or have quit within the past 15 years.

Even if you’ve quit, your previous tobacco exposure may continue to increase your risk of lung cancer compared with someone who never smoked.

“Quitting smoking doesn’t erase decades of tobacco use overnight,” explains Dr. Andrew Stevens, board-certified pulmonologist and intensivist who sees patients at Beaufort Memorial Pulmonary Specialists. “Some of the patients who benefit most from these screenings are former smokers who feel completely healthy and who haven’t touched a cigarette in years.”

Read More: 6 Early Signs of Lung Cancer and When to Take Action

Why Does Lung Cancer Risk Continue After You Quit Smoking?

The effects of smoking can last for decades after you quit.

Smoking damages lung tissue over time. Although quitting smoking immediately begins reducing your risk of many serious diseases, some of the cellular damage caused by tobacco exposure can remain long after your last cigarette.

Research reviewed by the American Cancer Society suggests that former smokers may remain at higher risk for lung cancer many years after quitting, particularly those with a significant smoking history.

Lung cancer screening, however, can help identify abnormalities before they become advanced cancers or before any symptoms develop.

Read More: Top 5 Reasons To Quit Smoking

Why is Lung Cancer Screening Important If I Feel Healthy?

One of the most dangerous aspects of lung cancer is that it can develop silently. Symptoms often don’t appear until the disease has reached an advanced stage and is more difficult to treat.

These symptoms include:

• Persistent cough
• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain
• Coughing up blood
• Unexplained weight loss
• Wheezing

Screening is intended to find lung cancer before symptoms begin, when treatment options are often less invasive and more successful.

“The challenge with lung cancer is that if often causes no symptoms in its early stages,” says Dr. Stevens. “The goal is to detect cancer before symptoms develop, not after. That’s what makes screening such a powerful and life-saving tool.”

What is a Low-Dose CT Scan?

Low-dose computed tomography uses advanced imaging technology to create detailed images of the lungs while exposing patients to significantly less radiation than a conventional chest CT scan.

A low-dose CT scan is:

• Fast
• Painless
• Noninvasive
• Completed in minutes
• Capable of detecting very small lung nodules and abnormalities

Low-dose CT screening is up to four times more likely to detect potentially cancerous lesions than a traditional chest X-ray.

Read More: Lung Cancer Risk Factors and a Lifesaving Screening

Who Qualifies for Lung Cancer Screening?

You may be eligible for annual lung cancer screening if you:

• Are between ages 50 and 80
• Currently smoke or formerly smoked
• Have at least a 20 pack-year smoking history
• Have no signs or symptoms of lung cancer

What Is a Pack Year?

A pack-year measures lifetime smoking exposure.

For example:

• One pack per day for 20 years = 20 pack-years
• Two packs per day for 10 years = 20 pack-years
• Half a pack per day for 40 years = 20 pack-years

If you’re unsure whether you meet the criteria, your primary care provider can help you calculate your pack-year history.

Does Lung Cancer Screening Save Lives?

Yes – research shows that screening can reduce deaths from lung cancer.

The landmark National Lung Screening Trial demonstrated that screening high-risk individuals with low-dose CT scans reduced lung cancer deaths compared with chest X-ray screening. The evidence supporting these screenings led national organizations to recommend annual screening for eligible adults.

“Because lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related death in the U.S., early detection can have a huge impact on survival and treatment outcomes,” emphasizes Dr. Stevens.

What Happens During a Lung Cancer Screening?

The process is very simple.

During a low-dose CT scan:

• You’ll lie on a scanning table.
• The scanner takes detailed images of your lungs.
• The scan takes only a few minutes.
• No needles, injections or sedations are required.
• You can typically resume normal activities immediately afterward.

Lung Cancer Screening at Beaufort Memorial

Beaufort Memorial offers low-dose CT lung cancer screening at multiple locations throughout the Lowcountry, including the Keyserling Cancer Center in Beaufort and the New River Cancer Center in Okatie.

Screening is covered by Medicare, Medicaid and many private insurance plans for eligible patients. Reduced price options through MDsave may also be available for qualitied individuals.

If you’ve smoked in the past, now may be the right time to have a conversation with your healthcare provider about lung cancer screening.

Read More: Small-Cell Lung Cancer: Risk Factors and When to Get Screened

Screening Saves Lives

Quitting smoking is one of the best investments you can make in your long-term health, but it doesn’t eliminate lung cancer risk overnight.

If you’re between 50 and 80 years old and have a significant smoking history, annual low-dose CT screening may help detect lung cancer at its earliest and most treatable stage. Talk with your provider to determine whether screening is right for you.

A lung cancer screening requires a referral from your primary care provider. If you need a provider, find one accepting new patients.