Enhancing public awareness combined with easier eligibility processes along with broader access networks enable greater rates of life-saving lung cancer screening programs.
United States: A research article appearing in the Journal of the American Medical Association shows lung cancer screening tests reach only approximately 20 percent of people who should receive them. Most high-risk individuals who smoke face substantial cancer detection risks because they avoid low-dose CT screening tests that provide early cancer identification, as reported by HealthDay.
It’s Not Resistance to Care—It’s Complexity
According to lead author Alexandra Potter of Massachusetts General Hospital, people eligible for lung cancer screening are not avoiding care altogether. In fact, those who receive lung screenings are four times more likely to have also undergone breast or colon cancer screenings.
“These individuals aren’t necessarily resistant to screening—other factors are likely driving the low participation,” Potter explained.
Complicated Criteria Cause Confusion
The eligibility requirements for lung cancer screening exceed those of other cancer tests by including precise smoking history assessment and age parameters. Adult population screening should be conducted according to the CDC guidelines for individuals between ages 50 and 80 who smoked for 20 years and remain active or moderate smokers.
That complexity—combined with limited access to screening clinics—makes it harder for patients and providers to identify who qualifies.
“Unlike breast or colon cancer screenings, lung screening eligibility involves age and smoking history,” Potter said. “This makes self-assessment and referrals more difficult.”
Healthcare Systems Urged to Step Up
The study, based on 2022 CDC data from 28,500 adults, showed that only 18% had received a lung CT scan, compared to 65% who had breast or colon cancer screenings.
Researchers are now calling on health systems to improve patient education, streamline eligibility checks, and expand access to screening centers, as reported by HealthDay.
“We must work together to improve awareness and remove the barriers keeping high-risk patients from getting screened,” said Dr. Chi-Fu Jeffrey Yang, senior researcher and thoracic surgeon.