Research shows CT scans cut down on lung cancer deaths

Lung cancer is the Grim Reaper’s best friend, killing more people within the United States of America than any other cancer. The simplest way to prevent cancer of the lung is to never smoke or quick smoking. People who insist on smoking may survive by detecting lung cancer early with a CT scan testing, which has proven to be more effective than a standard chest x-ray.

Lung cancer deaths lowered 20 percent with CT scans

A lung cancer study by the National Cancer Institute found that screening smokers and previous smokers with a CT scan once a year reduced deaths from the disease by 20 percent. Middle aged or older smokers or ex-smokers who had smoked a pack a day for at least 30 years were tracked. 53,000 people were watched. Those with a regular chest x-ray were compared to those who had annual low-dose helical computed tomography or CTs. The NCI had to stop the study early though. The results were so strong that letting the people in the study know had been important.

Lung cancer screening creates CT scan obstacles

The study forgot to address some obstacles that occur with the CT scans for lung cancer. A primary consideration is the cost of a CT scan for lung cancer screening, which is not presently covered by Medicare and most health insurance companies. A chest CT scan costs $1,800 as an average according to newchoicehealth.com. Most plans do cover the standard chest x-ray for lung cancer which only costs an average of $370 anyway. There is also radiation. About 15 times more radiation is put into a patient with a low-dose CT scan than with a chest x-ray. From time to time a CT scan will discover things that are considered suspicious anomalies. These aren't tumors some of the time.

Lung cancer death could be stopped with screening by a CT scan

80 million within the U.S. are smokers. Currently, 85 percent of patients with lung cancer die because it is diagnosed too late. CBS News reports that 67-year-old Steffani Torrighelli understood she had been a high risk for lung cancer after 50 years of smoking. Two years ago she had been part of the study. She did this on her own. At her first annual CT scan for lung cancer screening, an early stage tumor had been detected before any lung cancer symptoms emerged. It has been two years and after having the tumor removed, Torrighelli has no cancer and will continue to do her lung cancer screenings via CT scans.

Citations

Washington Post

washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/04/AR2010110407687_2.html

CBS News

cbsnews.com/stories/2010/11/04/eveningnews/main7023357.shtml

New Choice Health

newchoicehealth.com/Directory/Procedure/8/Chest%20CT%20Scan