Lung cancer is the leading cause of death from cancer in both men and women, killing more people than cancers of the breast, colon, cervix and prostate combined. In 1991 a group of doctors from Cornell University met with a goal of early lung cancer detection. In 1992 ELCAP (Early Lung Cancer Action Program) was formed.

Among their findings:
·       Curability of Stage I lung cancers is 80-90%
·       Annual CT screening allows at least 80% of lung cancers to be diagnosed at Stage I
·       CT screening creates a counseling opportunity that results in greater smoking cessation
·       Costs of CT screening for lung cancer compare favorably with breast, cervical, and colon cancer screenings 

To learn more about them click here. Because of the difficulties experienced with previous trials I-ELCAP started a trial to prove that screening improved survival from lung cancer.  This was enlarged into a multi-national study involving 9 countries and many centres.  A National Lung Screening Trial (NLST) in the United States was subsequently started. In November 2010 the trial was stopped after 8 years because of the following statement:  

November 4, 2010 — The huge randomized National Lung Screening Trial (NLST) in the United States has been stopped after 8-year results showed that screening heavy smokers with low-dose helical computed tomography (CT) significantly reduced deaths from lung cancer, compared with screening with chest x-rays. For the press release click here.

Many questions still arise but we can advise heavy smokers to be screened.  As always however the patients have to be advised to stop smoking.

A screening program has been commenced at Linksfield Park Clinic. For more information phone 011 4855252 or email:  Email addresses are using obfuscation for protection against spam-bots. JavaScript must be enabled to view the email address.