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More than 200,000 Americans receive a lung cancer diagnosis every year. If you’re concerned about your risk of this disease, you may want to invest in lung cancer screening. Expert pulmonologist, Akinyinka Ajelabi, MD, and the team at Kingwood Pulmonary, PA in Kingwood, Texas, regularly provide lung cancer screening to both men and women.
Lung cancer screening is a preventive measure that helps detect and diagnose lung cancer. If you’re a long-time smoker but are still relatively healthy, it’s a good idea to invest in this type of test.
During lung cancer screening, your provider uses low-dose computerized tomography (LDCT) to scan your lungs and look for cancer. By catching lung cancer early on, it’s much easier to treat.
The team usually recommends lung cancer screening for men and women with the greatest risk of lung cancer. You might benefit if:
You might also benefit from lung cancer screening if you’ve been diagnosed with a chronic respiratory disorder such as COPD or emphysema.
Different medical groups have different opinions on the frequency and length of lung cancer screening. However, it’s generally recommended that you participate in annual lung cancer screenings between the ages of 50 and 80, especially if you’re at risk of developing more serious respiratory health problems.
Following a physical exam and review of your medical history, your provider can develop a lung cancer screening plan that aligns with your needs.
Your provider performs lung cancer screening on-site in his state-of-the-art facilities. During your appointment, you lie very still on your back on a long table.
Next, a large machine over the table takes a series of images of your lungs. As the machine scans your lungs, your provider may ask you to hold your breath to get a clearer picture. Usually, a lung cancer screening takes no longer than 30 minutes.
Following your lung cancer screening, the team reviews the images of your lungs and looks for any potential abnormalities. If your lungs look healthy, they send you home and recommend another screening in a year.
However, if they detect a nodule or another sign of cancer, further testing or surgical intervention may be necessary.
If you’re at risk of developing lung cancer, protect your health by investing in preventive screenings. Request your appointment at Kingwood Pulmonary, PA by calling the office today.