CT screening of heavy smokers can reduce deaths by 20% according to a potentially landmark study sponsored by the National Cancer Institute. The clinical trial involved more than 53,000 former and current heavy smokers between the age of 55 and 74, and was cut short because the results were so conclusive. Lung cancer kills an estimated 157,000 Americans annually, with 85% of those effected either smokers or former smokers. Screening chest X-rays are not effective in detecting lung cancers early enough to improve survival, but CT scanning is more sensitive in detecting smaller, earlier stage tumors.

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Now what? The American Cancer Society Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Otis Brawley, indicated that for now, "the best advice we can give is to encourage people to have conversation with their doctors about whether lung cancer screening is the right for them." New screening recommendations have not yet been otherwise released by the American Cancer Society or others, and the study has not yet even been published.

So what should you do if you are smoker? The best answer remains the old answer: QUIT. While CT screening seems to improve survival in heavy current and former smokers age 55-74, there is no proven benefit in younger smokers. Screening isn't cheap and does result in false positives in up to 25% of patients, that may require more CT follow-up imaging, or even lung biopsy. Nevertheless, the study seems to teach a general lesson once again. Detecting a deadly disease late is bad, detecting early when possible with the right test is good, and prevention is even better.

By: the Physicians of Health Butler
[1/8/2011]

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