Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer deaths for both men and women, with cigarette smoking identified as the primary risk factor. Despite this, data from the American Lung Association shows that only 15% of adults in Florida aged 50-77 who are at risk have recently undergone lung screening.
John Vu, MD, a medical oncologist at Baptist MD Anderson Cancer Center, emphasized the importance of early detection. “Early detection of lung cancer is critical,” Dr. Vu said. “If it’s caught in stage I, the survival rate could be up to 80-90%. The Baptist MD Anderson lung screening program was established in 2015, and 63% of patients are found in stage I.”
Survival rates drop as the disease progresses: about 50-60% if detected at stage II, 13-36% at stage III, and up to 10% for stage IV cases.
Dr. Vu noted that many smokers may not know about available screening tests or avoid them due to concerns about quitting tobacco use. “Many smokers may not be aware that there is a lung cancer screening test,” he said. “And some smokers don’t want to be tested because it would mean giving up tobacco. However, patients don’t need to give up smoking to be screened. Tobacco is an addiction and we’re here to support patients if they want to quit.”
Stigma also plays a role in delayed diagnosis. “Some smokers are ashamed and embarrassed and don’t want to learn that their habit may have caused them to have cancer. They feel that society views them as being responsible for their condition,” Dr. Vu said. “It’s important to remember that nobody deserves cancer, and we’re here to support all of our patients.”
Nonsmokers can also develop lung cancer; approximately 10-20% of cases occur in those who never smoked. Radon exposure is cited as the second-leading risk factor for lung cancer after smoking. The Environmental Protection Agency provides radon testing kits for home safety assessments (https://www.epa.gov/radon). Secondhand smoke accounts for roughly 7,000 deaths annually among people living or working with smokers (https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/secondhand_smoke/general_facts/index.htm). Other risks include exposure to asbestos, diesel exhaust, air pollution, certain gene mutations, previous radiation therapy to the lungs, and family history.
Baptist MD Anderson Cancer Center offers a low-dose CT scan as part of its lung screening program in Jacksonville. “This type of scan has a better chance of detecting lung cancer early than a standard chest X-ray does,” Dr. Vu explained.
Medicare and many insurance plans cover screenings for individuals aged 50-77 with a significant smoking history—defined as one pack per day for twenty years or two packs per day for ten years—and who currently smoke or quit within the past fifteen years.
Individuals not meeting these criteria can inquire about self-pay options by contacting Baptist MD Anderson Cancer Center directly.
For more information on scheduling a screening or determining eligibility, individuals are encouraged to consult their primary care physician or visit baptistjax.com/lungscreening.
