Question: My children want me to talk to my doctor about being screened for lung cancer. How do I know if I’m eligible and what should I expect?  

Answer: Annual lung cancer screening is recommended for people whose age and smoking history put them at higher risk for lung cancer. Screening for this group is covered by Medicare and most private insurers. Studies have shown that screening people at high risk for lung cancer with low-dose CT (LDCT) scans before symptoms appear can find lung cancer when it is easier to treat and more likely to be cured.  

You should be screened if:

  • You are between the ages of 50 and 80, and 
  • You smoke cigarettes or quit within the past 15 years, and  
  • You smoke or used to smoke at least one pack a day for 20 years or two packs a day for 10 years. 

Lung cancer screening is done with an imaging machine that produces a low dose computed tomography (low dose CT or LDCT) scan of the chest. This scan can identify small spots in the lung called nodules. Most lung nodules are not cancer and will never become cancer, but some may need to be watched over time, further testing, or surgery.  

When you get a LDCT scan, you will lie very still on a table that slowly moves through the scanner. An X-ray machine rotates around you and takes pictures from many angles. Those pictures are combined into a very detailed image of your chest. The process takes less than 30 seconds and there are no medications or injections needed. There is also no need to stop eating or drinking before the exam. If your clothing does not contain metal, you may not even have to change. It is important that you can hold your breath for several seconds so that your lungs don’t move during the scan. This helps make sure that the images will be clear and easily read by your care team. 

If you qualify for screening, contact your healthcare team to discuss your history. They will provide a referral to a local screening center, or you can find a GO2-designated Center of Excellence for screening near you. If you do not meet the high-risk criteria but are concerned you are at risk for lung cancer, talk with your healthcare team about whether screening is right for you.  

If you have further questions about screening or your risk for lung cancer, contact our HelpLine at 1-800-298-2436 or email us at support@go2.org.

Please note that the information included in any published answer is for educational pursuit only and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. The reader should always consult their healthcare provider to determine the appropriateness of the information for their own situation. Nothing from GO2 for Lung Cancer should be construed as an attempt to offer or render a medical opinion.