2023 Screening Awards – Summer 2023 RFP Closed

Should I be screened for lung cancer?

The USPSTF changed its guidelines in 2022 and now recommends annual screening for lung cancer with low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) in adults aged 50 to 80 years who have a 20-pack-year smoking history and currently smoke or have quit within the past 15 years. Our collective early detection work around the country is paying off!

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the United States. Lung cancer is frequently diagnosed after it has spread. 74% of lung cancer diagnoses in the U.S. happen in stage 3 or 4.

The goal of lung cancer screening is to enable the detection of lung cancer before it has spread. If the disease is caught before it spreads, the likelihood of surviving five years or more improves greatly!

Learn about Curt’s story of how lung screening saved his life!

What are the signs and Symptoms of lung cancer?

More information about screening for healthcare providers.

One study, The Nelson Lung Cancer Screening Study (2018) showed that annual lung cancer screening with low-dose computed tomography in high-risk patients reduced lung cancer deaths by 26 percent in men and up to 61 percent in women (up to a 44 percent reduction overall if male and female cohorts were evenly split). Given that the American Cancer Society predicts 130,000 lung cancer deaths in the US each year, better screening uptake could save tens of thousands of American lives each year.

A Breath of Hope is working diligently to expand lung cancer screening criteria so that more people will be eligible. In the meantime, please educate yourself if you are ineligible for screening. Understanding what symptoms look like could lead to earlier detection and better odds of beating lung cancer.

A Breath of Hope MN Partners with lung screening programs:

For a list of U.S. lung screening sites compiled by the ACR, click here and enter your zip code. This list is not comprehensive. If you don’t see a site near you and believe you are eligible for screening, please contact your local clinic.

Radon LUNG CANCER FACTS Native American facts YouAndlungcancer.com

How do I know if I should be screened? 

  1. Are you between 50-80 years old?
  2. Do you have a 20-pack-year smoking history (i.e. 1 pack/daily for 20 years, 2 packs/daily for 10 years)​?
  3. Do you currently smoke or did you quit within the past 15 years?

If you answered “yes” to all three questions and are not experiencing lung cancer symptoms, you are eligible for preventative screening. Please talk to your doctor.

Frequently Asked Questions ​

Q. Who should get screened?​

A. Currently, screening is recommended for individuals at high risk for lung cancer. High risk is defined as:​

  • Between 50 and 80 years old​
  • Currently smoke or quit within the past 15 years​
  • Having a 20-pack-year history (1 pack a day for 20 years or 2 packs a day for 10 years)​