Why are so few getting this easy, effective cancer screening?
For Abbie Begnaud, MD, seeing someone with advanced lung cancer who should have been screened much earlier – but wasn’t – motivates her work to make screenings more accessible.
People with a history of smoking cigarettes have an increased risk for developing lung cancer. Annual screenings can help find lung cancer in early stages and lower your risk of death from lung cancer but it’s not always easy to get screened.
Begnaud, a pulmonologist with M Health Fairview and associate professor at the University of Minnesota Medical School, is working to increase access to lung cancer screenings, particularly in rural communities.
“Anybody with lungs can get lung cancer, and when found early, lung cancer survival rates can reach 80 to 90%,” Begnaud said. “The problem is less than 20% of eligible Minnesotans are screened for lung cancer.”
Who needs lung cancer screenings?
Lung cancer screening is currently recommended for people between the ages of 50 and 79 who currently smoke or who formerly smoked and have a long history of smoking cigarettes. If you have smoked more than 20 years, you’re probably eligible for screening.
The official guidance for lung screening is someone who has smoked the equivalent of a pack per day for 20 years, so-called 20 “pack-years.” But people who were light smokers, like half-a-pack per day for 40 years also meet the criteria. Most people 50 or older who smoke cigarettes have been smoking for 30 years or more.
Right now, prior or current pipe, cigar, marijuana or electronic cigarette use don’t factor into screening eligibility. However, screening guidelines are always being reviewed and reconsidered to ensure that it is available to as many people who will benefit as possible.
To get screening, talk with your healthcare provider. They aren't there to judge. They’re there to connect you with the care and screenings you need. Whether or not you have quit smoking, you can still protect your health by getting a quick and easy lung screening exam.
Lung cancer can also occur in people who have never smoked. Talk to your primary care provider if you notice signs of lung nodules, such as:
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Wheezing
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Prolonged coughing
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Coughing up blood
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Shortness of breath
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Fever
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Pneumonia
Cancer screening challenges in rural communities
Rural areas tend to have higher smoking rates, but less access to imaging centers. Even when clinics are adjacent to imaging facilities, transportation, distance, and scheduling can prevent patients from getting screened.
Social barriers also play a role. Sometimes people don’t want to tell their healthcare providers about their smoking history. Some people believe that lung cancer can’t be treated anyway.
Dr. Begnaud urges people to “forget whatever you think you know about lung cancer treatment…this is a totally different ball game today.”
How the screening works
One thing that’s not a barrier? The screening itself. While some screenings require fasting and other invasive procedures, lung cancer screening only uses a low-dose CT scan.
“It’s the easiest and most comfortable screening exam,” Begnaud said. “All you do is lay on a table for a quick minute and then get a scan.”
