Should I Be Screened?
Early detection of lung cancer can save lives and dramatically improve health outcomes.
If you are considering screening, you have already taken a very important first step to improving your wellness!
Whether you are aware of lung or breathing difficulties or have questions about your lung cancer risk, certain lifestyle factors and exposures put individuals at higher risk for lung cancer.
Bringing up the topic of cancer can be very difficult, but it’s not “bad luck” or a jinx. Having the conversation means you are taking good care of yourself and thinking about your loved ones.
The US Preventive Services Task Force provides diagnostic tools to help you and your Provider decide if lung cancer screening is a good idea for you.
If any of these describes you, please discuss your need for lung cancer screening with your Medical Professional:
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between 50-80 years of age and
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have quit smoking within the last 15 years, or
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currently smoke (even “light” or “low tar”) cigarettes[AT1] [LT2]
Click on the link below to calculate how much you smoke on average. This information can be helpful in calculating your risk level:
https://shouldiscreen.com/English/pack-year-calculator
[AT1]Do we need to add the pack history in addition to the calculator since it is part of the requirements?
[LT2]Agreed.
Here’s my suggested update, which has the Medicare age guidelines – I guess they haven’t changed them yet, and explains pack years:
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between 50 through 80 years old. (Or between 55 and 77 years old if I am on Medicare).
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have a 20 pack-year* history of smoking (or have a 30 pack-year history of smoking if on Medicare).
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currently smoke (even “light” or “low tar”) cigarettes
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or have quit within the last 15 years.
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*What is a pack-year?
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A way to measure the amount a person has smoked over a long period of time.
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Calculated by multiplying the number of packs of cigarettes smoked per day by the number of years the person has smoked.
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For example:
1 pack year = smoking 1 pack per day for 1 year
-or-
2 packs per day for half a year
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