Lung Cancer Prevention Starts with Early Detection

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. It’s a common misconception that smoking is the only cause of lung cancer. While smoking is the leading cause, recent studies have shown an increase in cases of people who have no history of smoking.

Vincent Daniel, MD, thoracic surgeon at OhioHealth, said that there are other factors that can contribute to developing lung cancer such as exposure to radon gas, secondhand smoke, inhalation of chemicals, air pollution and genetics.

“There are a lot of environmental exposures we don’t have a good understanding of, and we don’t have a slew of genetic mutations we have identified,” Dr. Daniel told Columbus Monthly reporter Kathy Gray. “There’s so much we don’t know.”

While there is a lot that we don’t know, we do know that radon exposure is the second-leading cause of lung cancer. Radon can be difficult to recognize because it is a colorless and odorless radioactive gas that enters through the foundation of buildings. Dr. Daniel said that long exposure to high levels of radon can increase the risk of lung cancer. Due to how common radon is in Ohio, he recommends that homeowners test their radon levels routinely.

Lung cancer screenings are also recommended every 12 months after receiving an initial scan. While there are other factors aside from smoking that can cause lung cancer, the criteria for screening eligibility are usually age, duration of smoking and smoking history. Typically, screenings are covered by most insurance for people age 50-77.

Using a low-dose computerized tomography (CT) scan, physicians can detect any abnormalities in the lungs earlier than ever before. Dr. Daniel said that this test has advanced to detect lesions in the lungs at a very small size. This can save lives, allowing doctors to remove lesions before the cancer spreads.

Receiving these early screenings is especially important because symptoms of lung cancer often don’t show up until the cancer is more prominent within the body. “The reason we’ve done such a poor job of treating cancer is that we’ve often found it too late,” said Dr. Daniel. 

Early detection can increase a patient’s chance of survival significantly. Protect your lungs by scheduling your screening at OhioHealth today.