Is it Possible to Diagnose Lung Cancer at an Early Stage? How is it Diagnosed?

Computed tomography of lung performed with low-dose radiation for early lung cancer diagnosis is an important screening method that saves lives when performed in appropriate individuals and at the right time. A recommended guide on who should be screened for this cancer and under what conditions has been prepared. Recently, this guideline has been updated for benefit-harm and application situations with new evidence and announced by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).

The Summary Of Cancer Screening Recommendations For Early Diagnosis İn Lung Cancer İs As Follows;

• People who do not have any complaints suggesting the presence of lung cancer (asymptomatic); Those aged between 55 and 77 years who have smoked for at least 30 years – even if they have quit smoking for the last 15 years – should be screened with low-dose radiation chest tomography (CT) once a year,
• Perform annual low-dose CT screening for asymptomatic former and current smokers who do not meet the smoking and age criteria in the above recommendation but are considered to have a high risk of developing lung cancer,
• Low-dose lung CT should not be performed on people who have smoked for less than 30 years, or younger than 55, or older than 77, or have not smoked for more than 15 years and are not at high risk of developing lung cancer,
• It is recommended that low-dose CT scanning not be performed in people with pre-existing serious diseases, who are unlikely to be treated for early-stage lung cancer, or who have a limited long life expectancy.

It is important to perform early diagnosis screening tests to decrease cancer-related deaths. However, the positive results of low-dose lung CT performed in people with high risk do not mean your current bet is reduced. It should be remembered that it is much more important to avoid all factors that increase the risk of lung cancer, such as not using cigarettes and other tobacco substances, not being a passive smoker, and not being exposed to radon gas and other chemicals such as asbestos.