Disputing that no screening method had proved effective at reducing mortality from lung cancer, annual CT scans of current and former heavy smokers reduced their risk of death from lung cancer by 20%, a huge government-financed study has found.
Previous studies stated scans can catch cancers at an earlier stage but did little to affect death rates. So why isn't that a big jump for you? Even the longest-term smokers only have a 10% chance of getting lung cancer and the cost for the scans is very high.
Health officials involved in the study refused to endorse widespread screening - their reasoning is strange but culturally logical. They are concerned that conclusions about policy decisions is being made based on media coverage (the study has not been published yet) and worry that making the CT scans for younger smokers will mean they think it's okay to continue smoking.
The National Lung Screening Trial was conducted by the American College of Radiology Imaging Network and the cancer institute and involved over 53,000 people ages 55-74 who smoked at least 30 pack-years, such as one pack per day for 30 years or two packs per day for 15 years. They also included ex-smokers who had quit within the previous 15 years.
