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Another Study Finds Lung Cancer Screening Saves Lives

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on June 11, 2024.

By Carole Tanzer Miller HealthDay Reporter

TUESDAY, June 11, 2024 — Lung cancer patients who underwent screening were more apt to be diagnosed at earlier stages and have better outcomes than patients who were not screened, new research shows.

The findings — from a study of close to 58,000 patients diagnosed through the U.S. Veterans Health Administration — underscore the importance of early detection through screening.

Lung cancer is the No. 1 cancer killer worldwide.

Current recommendations urge annual screening for 50- to 80-year-olds with a history of smoking a pack a day or more for the last 20 years or two packs a day for the last 10.

Clinical trials have shown screening with computed tomography (CT) scans to be beneficial, but real-world data have been scarce.

This study of U.S. veterans gauged the impact of screening prior to a lung cancer diagnosis.

Researchers found that patients who were screened had higher rates of early stage cancer diagnoses than those who were not screened — 52% versus 27%.

Over five years, they also had lower rates of premature death from any cause (49.8% versus 72.1%) as well as death from cancer (41% versus 70.3%).

"It is incredible to witness how dedicated national efforts to increase lung cancer screening from the Lung Precision Oncology Program can lead to substantial improvements in lung cancer outcomes," said co-author Dr. Michael Green of the University of Michigan and the Veterans Affairs Ann Arbor Healthcare System.

The findings were published June 10 in the journal Cancer.

Sources

  • Wiley, news release, June 10, 2024

Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

© 2024 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

Posted June 2024

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