At Orlando Health, we believe our communities should be empowered with information, including the risks of developing lung cancer and the steps to proactively prevent it. If you are at risk for lung cancer or have questions on how to prevent it, our multidisciplinary team of lung specialists is here to answer your questions and help give you power over your health.

Low-Dose CT Screening and Early Detection

Lung cancer is the leading cause of death from cancer in both men and women in the United States. At least 8.6 million Americans are at high risk for developing lung cancer and should be screened annually, according to the American Lung Association.

Studies have shown that a low-dose CT scan is the only lung cancer screening tool that reduces your risk of dying from lung cancer. That’s because symptoms of lung cancer usually don't appear until the disease is already at an advanced stage. Even when lung cancer does cause symptoms, many people may mistake them for other problems, such as an infection or the long-term effects from smoking. This may delay the diagnosis.

A low-dose CT scan shows changes in your lungs, which will prompt your doctor to order a test to determine if you have lung cancer. Your actual diagnosis of lung cancer is made by looking at your lung cells in a lab. The cells can be taken from lung secretions (mucus you cough up), fluid removed from the area around your lung (thoracentesis), or from a suspicious area using a needle or surgery (biopsy). If you need a lung cancer test, your doctor will decide which test is appropriate for you.

About Lung Cancer Screening

Lung cancer screening refers to testing done when there are no current symptoms or history of the disease. The only recommended screening test for lung cancer is a low-dose CT scan. A low-dose CT scan is a noninvasive procedure that takes under 30 minutes and has the potential to detect lung cancer at earlier stages. If lung cancer is discovered early, before it causes symptoms, you have increased chances of successful treatment and better prognosis.

Risk Factors of Lung Cancer

Anything that can increase your chances getting a disease is called a risk factor. Having a risk factor does not mean that you definitely will get lung cancer. While there are some risk factors you cannot change, there are some that you can control, which may reduce your likelihood of developing lung cancer.

Lowering Your Risk for Lung Cancer

There is no way to completely prevent cancer, but there are things you can do to lower your risk. The best way to reduce your risk of lung cancer is not to smoke and to avoid breathing in other people’s smoke.

If you smoke, make it your top priority to quit. It’s hard to do, and it often takes several tries before you kick the habit for good. But it is never too late to stop smoking, and the sooner you stop, the better. Cutting back on the number of cigarettes you smoke can help, but that is not as good as quitting completely.

There are many ways to stop smoking, including counseling, nicotine replacement and medications. Even if you don’t succeed at first, keep trying! For help to stop smoking, we offer free smoking cessation classes. Click here for more information and the class schedule.

Meet the Team

Should you require further treatment, Orlando Health Cancer Institute brings together a dedicated team of pulmonary, oncology and surgery experts with specialization in the diagnosis and treatment lung cancer.

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