Low-Dose CT Screening Helps Detect Lung Cancer Earlier, Expanding Treatment Options
Early detection, precision medicine and targeted therapies are helping improve outcomes for people with lung cancer.
9/1/2026
Dr. Thomas Oliver, Aspirus Medical Oncologist
Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States, but advances in screening and treatment are helping physicians detect the disease earlier and improve outcomes for patients. According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), studies have shown that low-dose CT screening can reduce mortality by 20 to 24 percent among high-risk individuals by detecting the disease at earlier, more treatable stages.
One of the most common questions people ask is whether they qualify for lung cancer screening. Current screening guidelines recommend annual low-dose CT scans for adults ages 50 to 77 who have at least a 20-pack-year smoking history and currently smoke or have quit within the past 15 years. The screening is intended for individuals who do not have symptoms of lung cancer, such as coughing up blood, unexplained weight loss, persistent coughing or shortness of breath, and are healthy enough to undergo treatment if cancer is detected.
“Through low-dose CT screening, we know we can reduce the risk of death by picking up disease earlier,” said Thomas Oliver, DO, medical oncologist with Aspirus Health. “The earlier we find lung cancer, the more treatable it is and the more likely we are to cure it.”
A low-dose CT scan is a quick, noninvasive screening exam that typically takes only a few minutes and does not require contrast dye, needles or special preparation. During the exam, detailed images of the lungs are captured and reviewed by a radiologist, who determines whether routine follow-up or additional evaluation is needed.
“Typically, early-stage lung cancers do not have any symptoms, so screening becomes really important,” Dr. Oliver said. “Just as mammography changed how we manage breast cancer, lung cancer screening is helping us detect more cancers before they become advanced.”
Researchers are also studying changing lung cancer trends, including findings that lung cancer rates among women now exceed those among men in certain younger and middle-aged age groups. While researchers continue working to better understand the factors contributing to these trends, advances in screening and treatment are already helping improve outcomes for patients diagnosed with lung cancer.
“We now have multiple targeted treatments based on next-generation sequencing, which helps us identify specific alterations in a tumor and match patients with therapies tailored to their cancer,” Dr. Oliver said. “That's led to improved outcomes, and patients are living longer, and we're curing more people of their lung cancer.”
While avoiding tobacco use remains the most effective way to reduce lung cancer risk, annual screening offers an important opportunity for eligible adults to take a proactive approach to their lung health. For current and former smokers, low-dose CT lung cancer screening can provide valuable information about their lung health and help determine whether additional evaluation is needed.
Adults who currently smoke or have a significant smoking history should talk with their primary care provider about whether low-dose CT lung cancer screening is appropriate for them. For more information about cancer care and related services, visit https://www.aspirus.org/cancer-care-blood-disorders.
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