Senior Living: Why screening for early detection of lung cancer in older adults is important

By Dr. Jimmy Johannes,

Contributing writer

Lung crab is the 2nd astir communal signifier of crab among some men and women, 2nd to prostate crab and bosom cancer, respectively, according to the American Cancer Society.

It is besides the astir communal origin of cancer-related death.

Tobacco smoking continues to beryllium the starring hazard origin for lung cancer, contributing to astir 90% of each lung cancers. Most individuals who are diagnosed with lung crab are 65 and older, and the mean property of a lung crab diagnosis is 70. The 2 main types of lung crab are non-small compartment lung crab and tiny compartment lung cancer. About 80% to 85% of lung cancers are the former.

The signifier of lung crab is defined by however overmuch it has spread. 

Jimmy Johannes, M.D., aesculapian director, Lung Program astatine MemorialCare Todd Cancer Institute. (Courtesy of Long Beach Medical Center)

Often, patients with lung crab astatine an aboriginal signifier person nary symptoms. For that reason, a lung crab screening tin beryllium an important instrumentality to diagnose lung crab astatine an earlier stage, erstwhile it is much apt to beryllium curable.

The American Lung Association estimates that a lung crab screening finds 80% of lung cancers astatine an aboriginal stage. Without screening, 70% of lung cancers are recovered erstwhile there’s minimal accidental for a cure.

Unfortunately, astir patients are diagnosed astatine an precocious stage.

Patients thin not to beryllium symptomatic until the crab has progressed to a much precocious stage. The astir communal symptoms see the  following: 

• A cough that does not spell distant oregon gets worse with time.
• Coughing up humor oregon rust-colored sputum (spit oregon phlegm).
• Chest symptom that feels worse with heavy breathing, coughing oregon laughing.
• Unexplained value loss.
• Shortness of breath.

Who should beryllium screened for lung cancer? 

The American Cancer Society recommends radical who are astatine a high-risk for lung crab consult with  their doc to find if they suffice for lung crab screening with a low-dose computed tomography screening. 

In March 2021, the criteria for specified a screening was updated. Screening is recommended for high-risk patients, who conscionable each the following  criteria:  

• Between 50 to 80 years of age.
• At slightest 20 pack-year smoking history.
• Those who are presently smoking oregon person discontinue smoking wrong the past 15 years.

Patients with a household past of lung crab and/or definite exposures (for example, radon oregon asbestos), whitethorn privation to sermon with their doc astir considering a lung crab screening.

Older patients diagnosed with lung crab don’t ever question treatment  

Nearly two-thirds of older patients who person been diagnosed with signifier III lung crab bash not person immoderate crab treatment, based connected a caller study, according to the Cancer Network. Of the 12,641 patients (with a median property of 83 years) entered successful the study, 7,921 — oregon 62.7% — received nary therapy. Patients who chose to not acquisition attraction oregon lone chose radiation were much apt to dice during the years analyzed than those who chose to person standard-of-care therapy. 

Caring for your lungs 

Fortunately, determination are manner modifications recommended by the American Lung Association that you tin signifier each time to assistance support your lung health. 

Here are elemental ways to support your lungs:  

• If you smoke, marque a program to quit: Smoking tin harm your lungs and enactment you astatine a higher risk  for lung cancer. Long Beach Medical Center offers a “Freedom from Smoking” course to assistance smokers commencement their discontinue travel and accidental goodbye to nicotine. 
• Exercise: Regular workout tin assistance support your muscles strong. 
• Watch your weight: Abdominal abdominous tin impact your diaphragm, the musculus beneath your lungs and heart, and however it afloat expands the lungs. Healthy eating and workout tin assistance you  support a steadfast weight.  
• Get up: Lying down for a agelong play of clip tin origin mucus and fluid to settee successful your lungs.  It’s important to determination astir truthful you don’t person excess buildup successful your lungs owed to a sedentary lifestyle. 
• Stay up-to-date connected your check-ups: Attending your regular check-ups tin assistance forestall diseases, particularly lung disease, which tin spell undetected until its aboriginal stages.  
• Get your shots: Get your yearly flu vaccine and the COVID-19 vaccine, and cheque with your doc astir whether you should besides get a pneumonia vaccine.  

The adept Lung Program objective squad astatine Long Beach Medical Center is present to assistance you each measurement of  the way. Find a specializer astatine 800-MEMORIAL (636-6742) oregon astatine memorialcare.org/providers. 

Dr. Jimmy Johannes is a board-certified internist who specializes successful pulmonary diseases and captious attraction at MemorialCare Long Beach Medical Center.