Expanding Lung Cancer Screening Guidelines to Reach More Smokers

New guidelines from the American Cancer Society recommend that even heavy smokers who quit 15 years ago or more should undergo yearly lung cancer screening with low-dose CT scans. The previous guidance, which excluded ex-smokers who quit more than 15 years ago, was based on a flawed premise that the risk of cancer decreased over time. However, data revealed that the risk of lung cancer actually increased with age, even among those who had quit smoking long ago. Currently, only a fraction of high-risk individuals are getting screened, contributing to the abysmally low rates of screening in the United States. The new guidelines will expand eligibility for screening, potentially saving more lives through early detection of lung cancer.