Lung cancer screening can save lives by finding problems early, often before you notice any symptoms. But it’s completely normal to feel nervous about screening or unsure whether it’s right for you. Many people have questions or worries that make them hesitate.
Here are some of the most common myths about lung cancer screening, along with the facts that set them straight.
Fact: Lung cancer screening is designed for people who feel well but have a higher risk because of their age and smoking history. You don’t have to wait for symptoms to appear.
Screening is usually recommended if you are between 55 and 74 years old and you smoke now or used to smoke, with a history of at least 20 pack years – this means smoking the equivalent of one pack of 20 cigarettes a day for 20 years.
Even if you feel completely healthy, getting checked helps find any problems early, when treatment is more likely to work well.
Fact: It’s understandable to worry about radiation, but the amount used in a low-dose CT scan like those used for lung cancer screening is very small.
The benefits of finding lung cancer early far outweigh any small risks from the scan itself.
Fact: Lung cancer screening does much more than just look for cancer. A low-dose CT scan can spot very small changes in your lungs before you feel unwell.
Research shows that lung cancer screening using low-dose CT scan can save one life for every five that might have been lost without screening people who are at a higher risk. This is because screening can detect cancer at an early stage, when treatment is more likely to work well.
Screening can also find other lung conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema or pulmonary fibrosis. Knowing about these early means you can get treatment and support to help you feel better and protect your health.
In some countries, lung checks are even offered alongside other screening, such as breast cancer screening, so you can take care of multiple aspects of your health at once without extra appointments.
Fact: It’s natural to feel worried about any possible diagnosis, but finding lung cancer early makes a big difference. When it’s caught at an early stage, treatment is more likely to work well, and many people go on to live well after treatment.
Screening can also pick up changes that are not cancer, which can help reassure you and ease health worries. Whether something serious or harmless is found, you will have more information and more choices about what happens next.
Fact: You are not to blame for being at higher risk. Tobacco products are highly addictive, and for decades the tobacco industry has used aggressive marketing to encourage smoking.
Screening is not about judgment or blame. It’s about looking after your health and taking a positive step for yourself.
If you’d like to quit smoking, screening can also connect you with support and resources to help you stop. But whether you smoke now or used to, you deserve care, respect and the chance to be screened.
Lung cancer screening is safe, proven and designed to help people at higher risk, even if you feel completely healthy. It can save lives by finding cancer early, when treatment works best.
If you have any questions or feel unsure whether screening is right for you, talk to your doctor or nurse. They can help you understand your options and feel confident about taking the next step.
Remember: taking part in screening is one of the best things you can do for your health and your future.
