Lung cancer screenings and nearly all the specialized care provided for thoracic patients are offered throughout Tufts Medicine at Tufts Medical Center, Lowell General Hospital and MelroseWakefield Hospital, allowing patients to be treated close to home. To receive lung cancer screening, you need to have a referral from your primary care doctor, so be sure to speak with them to see if you are an appropriate candidate for screening.
Lung cancer doesn’t usually cause symptoms until the cancer is advanced, so if the disease is caught early enough by the screening, when it is most treatable, a person’s chances of surviving greatly increases. A low-dose CT scan is the simple, quick and noninvasive screening test for heavy smokers and it is highly effective in catching the disease and other lung abnormalities early.
If a scanning test reveals a suspicious lung nodule, we work closely with each patient and our team in that location to determine the next step. When a lung cancer is diagnosed early and before it spreads, surgery to remove it without undergoing chemotherapy after the procedure may even be an option for a patient.
Lung nodules are spots found on an imaging test that are usually no more than an inch in diameter. They are not always cancerous and do not always need to be removed. Sometimes a patient who has a benign but suspicious lung nodule will be closely monitored by the team, which may mean more frequent screenings.
Screening tests find lung nodules in about half of people who are over the age of 50 and are current or former heavy smokers. Using minimally invasive techniques, such as a bronchoscopy combined with a biopsy, we can diagnose if the nodule is cancerous and determine the stage of the cancer.
The interventional pulmonologists work closely with thoracic surgeons and a team that also includes radiologists and oncologists, to develop a care plan for patients diagnosed with lung cancer and other serious lung diseases. Primary care providers often refer their high-risk patients for lung cancer screenings. Based on the results, the next step might be to see an interventional pulmonologist, a thoracic surgeon or to return at a later date for another screening.
If you are or were a heavy smoker, speak with your medical provider to determine if you are at risk for developing lung cancer and if lung cancer screening is right for you.
Lung cancer screening-frequently asked questions
Who is considered high risk for lung cancer?
The American Cancer Society recommends yearly screening for lung cancer with a low-dose CT (LDCT) scan for people aged 50 to 80 years who:
- Smoke or used to smoke (please check with your insurance as some plans require that those who have quit smoking have done so within the past 15 years in order to have the screening covered)
AND
- Have at least a 20-pack-year history of smoking
A pack-year is equal to smoking 1 pack (or about 20 cigarettes) per day for a year. For example, a person could have a 20 pack-year history by smoking 1 pack a day for 20 years, or by smoking 2 packs a day for 10 years.
What exactly is a lung cancer screening?
There is only one recommended screening test for lung cancer called a low-dose computed tomography (CT) scan. The CT scan is performed by a specially trained technologist who will take detailed images of your lungs while you are lying on your back on top of a scan table. Your hands will be placed above your head and you will be asked to hold your breath for a short time. The technologist will be at the machine’s control panel in the same room. Then, the table moves in and out of a circular ring while many images are taken. The images taken in a CT scan show a cross-section of the body more clearly than a standard X-ray.
How long does a lung cancer screening take?
The process from when you are lying on the CT scan table to taking the images should take less than three minutes. You will be asked to hold your breath only for a few seconds during that time.
What do I wear for a lung cancer screening?
After you check in for the screening, you will be asked to change into a gown and to remove all your jewelry. We suggest you wear clothes that are easy to take on and off.
Does insurance cover the cost?
Medicare and most private insurance plans cover the cost if a patient is considered high risk. Speak with your insurance carrier to see if complete coverage is provided.
Who reads the tests?
Radiologists who are specially trained to read lung cancer screening tests study the images taken and determine if anything looks abnormal.
What happens if I have a positive test?
If your test comes back positive for a suspicious-looking lung nodule, you will be evaluated by either an interventional pulmonologist or thoracic surgeon. Tufts Medicine specialists are under one roof at Tufts MC, Lowell General and the Tufts MC Cancer Care in Stoneham in partnership with MelroseWakefield Hospital, so patients are seen quickly by the appropriate medical provider.
What happens if I have a negative test?
If your test comes back negative, the radiologist might suggest you return at a later date for another screening to monitor you for changes if you are considered a high-risk patient.
Are there risks involved in the scanning?
A lung cancer screening is a low-dose CT scan, which means it uses less radiation than a standard CT scan, but it’s still very successful in producing images needed that could detect abnormalities early. As with all screening tests, discuss the benefits and risks for your own unique situation with your medical provider.
Can I schedule my own appointment for a lung cancer screening?
You will need a referral for a lung cancer screening appointment. If you think you may be at high risk for developing lung cancer, speak with your primary care provider about whether a low-dose CT screening is right for you.
