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What You Can Expect During a Lung Cancer Screening

What You Can Expect During a Lung Cancer Screening

If you qualify for a lung cancer screening, use this resource to learn more about what you can expect. You may find that the process is quite simple – it only takes a few minutes and is not painful.

What is a lung cancer screening?

Lung cancer screening via low-dose computed technology (LDCT), also called low-dose “CT scan” (computed tomography), is a routine test for people who are at high risk for lung cancer based on screening guidelines.

Lung This scan can help identify signs of lung cancer before a person has symptoms, detecting lung cancer at an earlier stage of disease.cancer screening via low-dose computed technology (LDCT), also called low-dose “CT scan” (computed tomography), is a routine test for people who are at high risk for lung cancer based on screening guidelines.

LDCT scans don’t involve any needles. A LDCT scan provides quality images using 90% less ionizing radiation than a standard CT scan of the chest.

How to prepare for a LDCT scan?

If you are eligible or think you may be at risk for lung cancer, talk to your doctor to determine if screening is right for you.

It’s common to feel some anxiety or fear before your LDCT scan, but don’t let these feelings stop you from getting a scan that could help your health. If you are experiencing any of these feelings, support is available. Talk to your doctor about any questions you may have. They can discuss your
concerns with you and help make you feel more comfortable.

What to expect during your scan

Before entering the scan, you will be asked to remove any metal you are wearing, like jewelry, watches, etc.

You may be asked to wear a hospital gown, depending on the facility.

During an LDCT scan, you lie on a table and an X-ray machine takes pictures
of your lungs. It only takes a few minutes and is not painful.

The person facilitating the scan will be there to guide you through the process.

What happens next

After your scan, the images from the scan will be reviewed by a doctor who specializes in reading these scans. Your doctor will contact you with the results and discuss recommendations for any next steps.

It is possible you may need additional follow-up. Sometimes screening will find irregularities in the lungs or nearby organs and additional tests will be needed.

If your screening is abnormal, make sure to speak with your doctor to discuss next steps and follow up tests.

Earlier detection of lung cancer can make a difference.

References:

  1. American Cancer Society. How to Get Screened for Cancer if You Don’t Have a Doctor. Available in: https://www.cancer.org/healthy/find-cancer-early/how-to-get-screened-for-cancer-if-you-dont-have-a-doctor.html. Date: April 21, 2021. Citation date: December 19, 2022.
  2. American Cancer Society. Signs and Symptoms of Lung Cancer. Available in: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/lung-cancer/detection-diagnosis-staging/signs-symptoms.html. Date: October 1, 2019. Citation date: December 19, 2022.
  3. American Lung Association. Lung Cancer Key Findings. Available in: https://www.lung.org/research/state-of-lung-cancer/key-findings. Date: November 17, 2022. Citation date: December 19, 2022.
  4. American Lung Association. What to Expect from a Lung Cancer Screening. Available in: https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/lung-cancer/saved-by-the-scan/resources/what-to-expect-from-lung-cancer -screening. Citation date: December 19, 2022.
  5. Jyoti Patel, MD, FASCO. What Is Scanxiety? How People With Cancer and Survivors Can Cope. Available in: https://www.cancer.net/blog/2021-10/what-scanxiety-how-people-with-cancer-and-survivors-can-cope. Date: October 28, 2021. Citation date: December 19, 2022.
  6. Cancer Treatment Centers of America. Low-dose CT (LDCT) scan. Available in: https://www.cancercenter.com/cancer-types/lung-cancer/diagnosis-and-detection/low-dose-ct-scan . Date: MAY 6, 2022. Citation date: December 19, 2022.
  7. https://go2foundation.org/risk-early-detection/frequently-asked-questions/
  8. Mount Sinai. Lung Cancer Screening Program. Available in: https://www.mountsinai.org/care/radiology/services/lung-screening. Citation date: December 19, 2022.
  9. NIH. low-dose CT scan. Available in: https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/low-dose-ct-scan. Citation date: December 19, 2022.
  10. The University of Kansas. Low-Dose CT FAQ. Available in: https://www.kucancercenter.org/cancer/cancer-types/lung-cancer/lung-cancer-diagnosis-screening/low-dose-ct-faq. Citation date: December 19, 2022.
  11. U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Issues Final Recommendation Statement on Screening for Lung Cancer. Available in: https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/sites/default/files/file/supporting_documents/lung-cancer-newsbulletin.pdf. Date: March 9, 2021. Citation date: December 19, 2022.