Lung Cancer Screening Improves Long-Term Survival Rate

The American Cancer Society states that each year there will be approximately 236,740 new lung cancer cases in the United States. The incidence rate is nearly equal between men and women. Additionally, there are 130,180 lung cancer-related deaths in the US each year. A 20-year international study presented at the Radiological Society of North America annual meeting found that lung cancer screening improved long-term survival rates.

Only 18.6% of lung cancer patients survive five years after diagnosis. Over 50% of patients diagnosed with lung cancer will die within the first year. This is partially because only 16% of lung cancers are diagnosed early on.

"While screening doesn't prevent cancers from occurring, it is an important tool in identifying lung cancers in their early stage when they can be surgically removed," said the study's lead author, Claudia Henschke, PhD, MD, professor of radiology and director of the Early Lung and Cardiac Action Program at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York, in the press release.

Despite progress in treating late-stage cancers, the most effective way to improve survival rates thus far is to be diagnosed in earlier stages where tumor resection might be possible. According to the Radiological Society of North America, people whose cancer was identified through a CT screening had a ten-year survival rate of 80%.

The study presented at this year’s annual meeting looked at the 20-year survival rate. The study followed approximately 1,285 patients diagnosed with early-stage cancer in the International Early Lung Cancer Action Program. For patients with nonsolid, cancerous lung nodules and partially solid nodules, the 20-year survival rate was 100%. On the other hand, those with nonsolid nodules had a survival rate of 73%.

"Symptoms occur mainly in late-stage lung cancer," Henschke said in the press release. "Thus, the best way to find early-stage lung cancer is by enrolling in an annual screening program." Currently, the US Preventative Services Task Force recommends low-dose CT screening for lung cancer for patients between 50 and 80 who smoke 20 packs of cigarettes a year or have quit within the past 15 years. Based on the data presented in this study, providers may consider earlier screening for higher-risk patients.