Test For Lung Cancer. If your screening shows you may have lung cancer your doctor will likely order diagnostic tests. Regular chest x rays have been studied for lung cancer screening but they did not help most people live longer.
Who should be screened. The only recommended screening test for lung cancer is low dose computed tomography also called a low dose ct scan or ldct. An x ray image of your lungs may reveal an abnormal mass or nodule.
If your screening shows you may have lung cancer your doctor will likely order diagnostic tests.
If lung cancer is caught before it spreads the likelihood of surviving 5 years or more improves to 59 percent. Lung cancer screening is recommended for older adults who are longtime smokers and who don t have any signs or symptoms of lung cancer. An x ray image of your lungs may reveal an abnormal mass or nodule. During an ldct scan you lie on a table and an x ray machine uses a low dose amount of radiation to make detailed images of your lungs.
