Early detection through lung cancer screening can save lives, especially for high-risk individuals. Join thoracic surgeon Dr. Michaela Straznicka from BASS Medical Group as she explains the crucial role of low-dose CT scans in identifying lung cancer early, even before symptoms appear. Learn who should get screened and how proactive screening can lead to better outcomes.
Screening for a disease means evaluating patients who are completely asymptomatic—those who have no symptoms that would indicate a particular disease—and actively looking for it. Common screenings include mammograms for breast cancer, PSA tests for prostate cancer, and colonoscopies for colon cancer. Currently, lung cancer screening is reserved for patients who are considered high risk. This includes individuals with an extensive smoking history, asbestos exposure, significant secondhand smoke exposure, or a family history of lung cancer. For these patients, we screen for cancer despite them having no symptoms, simply because their risk factors make early detection crucial. The only approved screening test for lung cancer is a CT scan, also called a CAT scan, of the chest. This imaging test allows us to take detailed pictures of the inside of the body. The purpose of a low-dose CT scan is to minimize radiation exposure while still obtaining high-quality images that help detect nodules or masses in the lung. Current recommendations advise using low-dose, non-contrast CT scans for patients who meet the high-risk criteria, which includes specific age groups, smoking history, and exposure history. There are also ongoing clinical trials exploring lung cancer screening for non-smokers, particularly those with a genetic predisposition, a strong family history, or significant secondhand smoke exposure despite never having smoked themselves. My name is Michaela Straznicka, and I am a proud member of the BASS Medical Group.
