lcmh.com 9 Unfortunately, 9 in 10 people who are eligible to get screened for lung cancer have not had this screening. Lung cancer is the second most common form of cancer in both men and women in the United States, and it’s the leading cause of cancer death, according to the American Cancer Society. It equates to 20% of all cancer deaths. The main cause of lung cancer is cigarette smoking, which accounts for approximately 80% of all cases. The good news is that if lung cancer is detected at an early stage, before signs and symptoms begin to develop, it is more likely to be treatable. Early treatment has been found to dramatically reduce the risk of dying of lung cancer. Who should be screened for lung cancer? A lung cancer screening is typically recommended for: • Those who have a 20-pack-year history (smoking one pack per day for 20 years, five packs per day for four years or two packs per day for 10 years) or more • Smokers and former smokers who are between the ages of 50 and 80 • Those who formerly smoked or have quit within the past 15 years Your doctor can help you decide whether a screening is right for you. What is lung cancer screening? Screenings consist of a low-dose CT scan (LDCT), which is a specialized form of x-ray where an image is captured of the lungs and a radiologist interprets it for signs of lung cancer. The screening itself takes 2 minutes and is not painful. The LDCT is currently the only recommended screening test for lung cancer. This test saves lives, and the earlier it’s done, the better. According to the American Lung Association, a lung cancer screening can reduce the risk of death by 20%. It’s a screening that can literally save lives. Help prevent lung cancer Talk to your doctor about screening time to do something about it. Holly’s biopsy was performed using robotic-assisted bronchoscopy, the Ion by Intuitive. This technology allows unprecedented stability and precision to obtain tissue samples from deep within the lung. After finding out about her lung cancer diagnosis, Holly completed her chemotherapy treatments in the summer of 2024, with the potential of a surgical lung resection on the horizon. While the journey may not be at an end, her strength and hope remain by her side: Her husband who beat lung cancer is her example. “I wouldn’t take it back for anything,” says Jack. “We are doing this together, and [we] have our family and the staff at Memorial supporting us.”
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