Close X
Thursday, November 14, 2024
ADVT 
Health

New Guidelines Back CT Scans For Lung Cancer Screening In Longtime Smoke

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 07 Mar, 2016 10:33 AM
    TORONTO — New guidelines suggest adults aged 55 to 74 who are at high risk of lung cancer due to a history of smoking should be screened annually over three consecutive years using low-dose CT scans.
     
    The guidelines from the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care apply to current smokers and those who have quit within the past 15 years with at least a so-called 30 pack-year history of smoking.
     
    A 30 pack-year history would include a person who smoked one pack a day for 30 years, or two packs a day for 15 years.
     
    The guidelines are based on recent studies, including a clinical trial that found a 15 per cent reduction in lung cancer deaths among those screened with a CT scan compared to a chest X-ray.   
     
    The task force advises against screening for lung cancer with chest X-rays. It also does not recommend screening among adults outside the 55 to 74 age range, regardless of their smoking history. 
     
     
     
    Lung cancer is the most common cancer in Canada and the No. 1 cause of death from cancer. In 2015, about 26,600 Canadians were diagnosed with lung cancer, and almost 21,000 died from the disease.
     
    "Screening for lung cancer aims to detect disease at an earlier stage, when it may respond better to treatment and be less likely to cause serious illness or death," Dr. Gabriela Lewin, chairwoman of the task force's working group, said in a release Monday.
     
    The recommendations do not apply to people with a family history of lung cancer or those with symptoms suggestive of lung cancer. For people with other risk factors for lung cancer — such as exposure to radon or second-hand smoke, or previous radiation to the chest — it is unknown whether there is benefit from screening with low-dose CT, the authors said.
     
    The guidelines are published in Monday's edition of the Canadian Medical Association Journal.

    MORE Health ARTICLES

    Quebec Hearings Set To Begin Into Taxi Industry And Uber

    Quebec Hearings Set To Begin Into Taxi Industry And Uber
    They are scheduled to last several days against the backdrop of sometimes hostile clashes between cabbies and Uber drivers.

    Quebec Hearings Set To Begin Into Taxi Industry And Uber

    Are We All Getting Fatter?

    Are We All Getting Fatter?
    The BMI average was found to be at a higher level for both males and females, and also across all social groups.

    Are We All Getting Fatter?

    How Fast Are Your Lungs Ageing? Here's The Lowdown

    How Fast Are Your Lungs Ageing? Here's The Lowdown
    Mothers who smoke, respiratory infections and the date you were born all contribute to determine how fast your lungs are ageing

    How Fast Are Your Lungs Ageing? Here's The Lowdown

    Half The World's People To Become Myopic By 2050, Says Study

    Half The World's People To Become Myopic By 2050, Says Study
    Nearly five billion people, that is about half the world's population, are poised to become myopic or short-sighted by the end of 2050, indicates a study.

    Half The World's People To Become Myopic By 2050, Says Study

    Your Boss Can Influence Your Health!

    Your Boss Can Influence Your Health!
    A new study suggests that managers must be provided with incentives to focus on creating a healthier work environment.

    Your Boss Can Influence Your Health!

    Don't Skip Breakfast If You Want To Remain Active

    Don't Skip Breakfast If You Want To Remain Active
    According to the team, increasing activity can improve health in sedentary people making them more active by controlling their blood sugar levels.

    Don't Skip Breakfast If You Want To Remain Active