Lung Cancer Santa Fe
While breast cancer is more common in women and prostate cancer, more common in men, approximately 13% of all reported instances of cancer are cancers of the lung. This is the second most common cancer in both sexes.
The American Cancer Society reports that US statistics for lung cancer this year include approximately 228,150 new cases of the disease (slightly skewing toward men).
As many reading this post will know, lung cancer is the top cause of cancer death. More people die of this type of cancer every year than do from breast, colon and prostate cancers combined.
Lung cancer, it should be noted, mostly affects older people, with most being diagnosed after 65 years-of-age. The average age at diagnosis is 70.
When detected early, lung cancer can be treated effectively. At present, there are almost half a million survivors of lung cancer, nationwide.
National Lung Cancer Screening Trial
This widely-recognized trial examined the efficacy of LDCT of the chest as a lung cancer screening tool. For more detailed images, CT scans are significantly superior to chest x-rays and enjoy great success in finding abnormalities in the lungs which are smaller in scale.
The trial compared chest x-rays with LDCT in subjects who were at high risk of lung cancer to see if screening improved prognoses.
In total, 50,000 subjects, aged 55 to 74, participated in the trial. All trial participants either still smoked, or had previously smoked and were in reasonably good health.
To participate in the NLST, subjects had to have a 30 pack-year history of cigarette smoking (30 pack-year meaning, “smoked at least a pack a year for 30 years” but may also mean “2 packs per day for 15 years”).
NLCST results
Study participants received either 3 LDCT scans or 3 chest x-rays, done once per year over the course of the multi-year study.
Several years into the trial, it was ascertained that participants receiving LDCT were 20% less likely to die from lung cancer than participants who received chest x-rays.
American Cancer Society guidelines
The ACS’s guidelines recommend annual lung cancer screening for those aged 55 to 74 who also meet the following criteria:
- Currently smoke or quit smoking over the past 15 years
- Have a minimum 30-pack year history.
- Are in the process of quitting smoking
- Understand the limitations and risks of LDCT scans
- Can source a facility experienced in the delivery of lung cancer screening and therapies to treat it.
Lung cancer Santa Fe
X-Ray Associates of New Mexico are renowned specialists in the delivery of diagnostic radiology services. We treat all kinds of patients in 6 clinics located throughout the state.
Here, we offer a comprehensive range of technologies, drawn from only the most advanced testing protocols in existence.
We want the best for our patients, so we offer patient-centered care, which includes same-day diagnostic scheduling and delivery.
XRANM
People seeking lung cancer screening and other diagnostics will find the most reliable radiology with XRANM. For 65 years, we’ve been serving the people of New Mexico with leading-edge technologies.