Lung Cancer Awareness Month: What You Need to Know and How Lung Cancer Screenings Are Saving Lives

In recognition of Lung Cancer Awareness Month in November, three of Trinity Health Michigan's leading lung cancer experts participated in a Q&A to help explain what lung cancer is and why getting screened is so important for longtime smokers and former smokers. Participating in the Q&A were Rajeev Swarup, MD, Mohammed Al-Charakh, MD, and Sohaib Gilani, MD, all of whom are experienced pulmonologists and critical care specialists.

Q: What is lung cancer and how does it impact the body?

Dr. Swarup: Lung cancer is a disease in which the body’s own cells begin to grow uncontrollably. As this growth continues, cancer cells can eventually spread to other sites in the body. At early stages, there may not be any signs or symptoms that anything is wrong. Persistent chest pain, shortness of breath, coughing up blood, unintentional weight loss and abnormal breathing are just a few of the symptoms that can be associated with lung cancer. Prior to accessible lung cancer screenings, we would often detect lung cancers at later stages.

Q: How serious is lung cancer if not detected and treated promptly?

Dr. Swarup: Lung cancer is very serious. If not identified early, it is much harder to treat and cure. In fact, lung cancer is by far the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in America. That is why early detection is so important to us as physicians and why it should be important for patients. We have made great strides in recent years in our ability to diagnose and treat early lung cancers.

Q: How can the public prevent lung cancer?

Dr. Swarup: The number one thing people can do is quit smoking. Smoking is not good for overall health and is the number one risk factor for developing lung cancer, in addition to many other health risks such as heart disease, other cancers, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It’s never too early or too late to quit, and we have experts available who can help. Some patients may be eligible for free education and counseling, so give us a call.





Q: Why is a lung cancer screening so important?

A: Dr. Al-Charakh: Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in United States. The goal of screening is early detection in high-risk patients. Studies show that early detection of lung cancer is lifesaving as it increases the chances of a cure. In fact, a recently published international study showed that patients diagnosed early through lung cancer screening have an overall cure rate of 85 percent and a 20-year cancer survival rate of 81 percent.

Q: Who should be screened for lung cancer?

Dr. Al-Charakh: We recommend lung cancer screenings for people at high risk of lung cancer, even if they don't have any symptoms.

A lung cancer screening is recommended annually if you:

• Are age between 50 and 80 years.
• Have a 20 pack-year smoking history.
• Currently smoke or smoked in the last 15 years.

Q: What type of screening test does Trinity Health Michigan offer?

Dr. Gilani: At Trinity Health Michigan, we offer low-dose computed tomography scans for lung cancer screening, which involves the patient lying on a table while a machine scans their chest. These are a type of CT scan that use a lower dose of radiation than traditional CT scans. This makes them safer for patients, however, it’s quite powerful and can detect cancerous growths as small as a few centimeters.

Q: How do I prepare for a lung cancer screening?

Dr. Gilani: The most important thing you can do is schedule an appointment and show up for it. You do not need to do anything else to prepare for a lung cancer screening.

Q: After the screening, what happens next?

Dr. Gilani: After being screened, a radiologist will read the scan and we will share their findings with the patient as quickly as possible, usually within a few days. If the screening results are negative, which means there is no cancer found, that’s good news and no additional action is needed. If the radiologist sees something concerning that could be cancerous, a nurse navigator will call the patient. We will explain the results and likely order additional tests. It’s important to note that not all growths seen on a scan are cancerous, but we need to make sure so additional tests will be needed before making a final determination.

For more information about lung cancer screening at Trinity Health Michigan, please visit our website here or call us at 1-800-443-4273. For help on how to quit smoking, and for resources available through Trinity Health Michigan, please visit our website here.