08/01/2025
Screening is used to detect lung cancer early, when it is more likely to be curable. The most important thing you can do to prevent lung cancer is to not start smoking, or to quit if you smoke. Many people think they are exempt from lung cancer because they have never smoked but this is not true. It can also be caused by secondhand smoke, radon gas exposure in your home or workplace. If you have smoking history, talk to your healthcare provider about if screening is right for you. There are some cases where you should be screened even if you have not been exposed.
Fast facts, according to the CDC:
* Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among both men and women in the United States.
* Each year, about 209,000 people in the United States are told they have lung cancer, and about 132,000 people die from this disease.
* Different people have different symptoms for lung cancer. Most people with lung cancer don't have symptoms until the cancer is advanced.