Do You Smoke?

Cigarette smoking is the No. 1 preventable cause of death in the U.S. Lung cancer accounts for about 25% of all cancer deaths and is the leading cause of death from cancer in both men and women. While lung cancer is treatable if discovered early, only 16% of lung cancer cases are found at an early stage. Early diagnosis increases the survival rate for lung cancer, and if you smoke, you should discuss lung cancer screening options with your doctor.

Deborah Giannone, FNPC, director of the Lung Screening Program for UHS Medical Group, explains that yearly lung cancer screenings help find cancer early in smokers. If you are screened regularly and you develop lung cancer, it will be caught before it has the time to grow into a larger problem. Screenings are done through low-dose computed tomography (LDCT), which limits the amount of radiation the patient is exposed to. “It is also painless and noninvasive,” adds Ms. Giannone.

If you smoke and are apprehensive about getting screened, Ms. Giannone recommends taking that first step. “We don’t want to make smokers feel bad about smoking,” she explains. “We’re here to help, not judge. We want to do what we can to help you, including screening, but also having conversations about quitting smoking and the options that are out there for people.”