Busting 6 myths about CT screening for lung cancer

Like many hospitals, Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSK) launched a Lung Cancer Screening Program to provide low-dose lung CT screening to current and former smokers who are at high risk for developing lung cancer.

While there are many programs like these, patients who would benefit most from it are not getting screened, possibly due to myths and misconceptions surrounding it.

Thoracic surgeon Bernard Park and radiologist Michelle Ginsberg from MSK are setting the record straight and putting several myths to rest, in hopes to get more patients in. 

Myths

• If I quit smoking, I am no longer at risk and don't need to undergo lung cancer screening.
• Lung cancer screening is still considered experiemental and is not part of standard care.
• Lung cancer screening has a high rate of false positives, leading to many unnecessary procedures.
• The scans used in lung cancer screening expose you to dangerous radiation.
• If lung cancer is found, it will be too late for effective treatment.
• Lung cancer screening is time consuming.

The lung cancer screening program states that depending on a patients smoking history or current smoking habits, certain guidelines should be followed for lung cancer screening. Pateints who are worried about how long the low-dose CT scan takes, medical staff should remind them that it takes less than five minutes. And like MSK, if your hospital offers screening and consultation combined into a single appointment, patients should be reminded of that benefit.