Updated Lung Cancer Guidelines Acknowledge Former Smoker's Risk Of Lung Cancer Never Disappears — 5M More Americans Eligible For Screening

In a recent development, the American Cancer Society has widened its lung cancer screening guidelines. This change could potentially result in an additional five million U.S. adults being screened each year.

What Happened: As reported by Fortune, the American Cancer Society has revised its lung cancer screening guidelines. The earlier guidelines, last updated in 2013, recommended screenings for adults aged 55-74 who had a 30-pack-year history of smoking, and who were either still smoking or had quit less than 15 years ago.

The updated guidelines now recommend annual screenings for adults aged 50-80, with the pack-year requirement reduced to 20. Additionally, how long it’s been since a person quit smoking is no longer a factor in the screening recommendation. The change reflects the recognition that a former smoker’s risk of lung cancer never entirely disappears.

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Dr. Robert Smith, senior vice president of early cancer detection science at the American Cancer Society, stated in a news release that the revised screening standards “could make a real difference in saving lives”. A low-dose CT scan is the advised method for screening.

Lung cancer, the top cause of cancer deaths in the U.S., is most prevalent in individuals aged 65 and older. The American Cancer Society encourages those who qualify under the new screening guidelines to consider the potential benefits, limitations, and risks of yearly screening.

Before this update, lung cancer screening rates were reported by the Prevent Cancer Foundation to be the lowest among all routine cancer screenings. Less than 6% of those eligible had actually been screened for lung cancer.

Why It Matters: The revised guidelines come in the wake of a long-standing battle against the harmful effects of smoking.

As early as 1964, the U.S. government issued its first health warning against cigarettes, marking a significant moment in public health history.

Benzinga’s article on the subject highlights how the dangers of smoking have been recognized over the years. The new guidelines by the American Cancer Society reflect an ongoing commitment to combating lung cancer and saving lives.

Photo by chayanuphol on Shutterstock.

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