Getting the Best from Lung Cancer Screening

Lung cancer usually does not manifest symptoms until it advances and becomes difficult to treat. That is why it leads in causing cancer deaths in the U.S. If diagnosed early, the chances of living longer are high. Doctors are now able to detect lung cancer early through screening before it causes symptoms.

A low-dose CT scan is a recommended test for early detection of lung cancer. A CT scan uses X-rays to create 3D images of the lungs in detail. For those at a high risk, a yearly test could help reduce the risk of dying from lung cancer.

For you to get the best results from screening:

• You need to be choosy – Where you get tested is very important. The American Lung Association together with the American Cancer Society cautions that testing can only be done at a specialized lung cancer screening facility. It is recommended to do a background check on the radiologists and choose those with experience and expertise on performing and interpreting scans. This will help to avoid getting a false positive test result.

• Making an appointment – Once you are eligible for screening for lung cancer, you can book your appointment by calling a Pet-Ct Scan Center or you can request an appointment online through their website. You can talk to customer support regarding any questions you may have regarding lung cancer screening. They should be able to walk you through the whole process. A good cancer treatment center will have these facilities within their center to make the process easy for their patients.

• During your appointment – You’ll be seen by a medical practitioner specializing in lung cancer screenings. The practitioner will take you through the scan process so you understand thoroughly what it entails. In case you are a smoker, counseling will be provided free to help you quit. They may enroll you in a program regarding smoking. The scan will take about 15 minutes and no special preparation is required.

• Same-day results – A radiologist at the healthcare center will review your results for signs of cancer right away. You’ll have your results the same day and also get a chance to discuss those results with the medical practitioner. If the scan indicates something that needs further evaluation, a follow-up test can be scheduled.

A good lung cancer screening and treatment center will not have you wait for your results. If the results show a diagnoses of lung cancer, the experts at the center will create a personalized treatment plan and discuss the details with you right away.