Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. According to health experts, that reality underscores the importance of routine screenings and early detection.
November marks National Lung Cancer Awareness Month, a nationwide effort aimed at highlighting the risks associated with the disease and encouraging people — particularly those with a history of smoking — to get screened.
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Early screening is key
For many physicians, the month serves as a reminder that the simplest step a patient can take may also be the most crucial.
“There’s actually data showing that only about 15% of people who are eligible get screened,” said Dr. Danielle Hughes, a pulmonary and critical care physician. Hughes said the low screening rate continues to worry those in her field, especially considering how effective early intervention can be.
“If we can find it earlier, we can offer patients better survival overall,” she said.
The American Lung Association reports that someone in the United States is diagnosed with lung cancer every two minutes. Each day, 361 people die from the disease — numbers that remain stubbornly high despite advances in treatment and imaging technology.
Hughes said those statistics reinforce a message she repeats often: If you’ve ever smoked, even years ago, you should talk to your doctor about screening.
“It’s really hard when I see a patient who’s 65, who should have been getting screened for 15 years, and we find something that’s extremely extensive,” she said. “Those are the cases that stay with you.”
Detecting more than just cancer
Low-dose CT scans, the standard tool used in lung cancer screening, can detect abnormalities long before symptoms appear.
Hughes said that in addition to identifying potential tumors, screenings can reveal other serious health issues.
“We’ll find things like coronary artery disease or sometimes the beginnings of lung disease,” she said. “It’s not just about cancer — it’s about understanding the overall health of the lungs.”
Not just smokers
While lung cancer is most often associated with smoking, Hughes noted that nonsmokers can also develop the disease. Environmental exposures, family history and air quality can factor into risk, making screening even more important for people with additional vulnerabilities.
Hughes emphasized that the goal is not to alarm patients but to empower them with information that could ultimately save their lives. Regular screenings, she said, consistently lead to earlier detection, which directly improves survival rates.
“Regular screening has been shown to catch lung cancer at earlier stages, and earlier stages have better prognosis and better survival,” she said.
And ultimately, she added, individuals must take an active role in their health care — regardless of whether a screening finds something concerning or nothing at all.
“We are our own best advocate,” Hughes said. “If you think something is wrong, get it checked out. The earlier that we detect things, the better the prognosis and survival.”
