Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Don’t Forget to Screen Your Lungs, Too
Every October, the world is filled with reminders to get screened for breast cancer, and pink ribbon campaigns have been remarkably successful over the years.
At The Lung Docs, we think there’s another appointment worth adding to your list: lung cancer screening. Lung cancer is surprisingly common but often overlooked, even though finding it early gives patients the best chance of successful treatment.
Why Lung Cancer Deserves the Same Attention
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death worldwide, which is why screening for it deserves the same attention as breast cancer screening. Smoking is the biggest risk factor, but about 15% to 20% of cases occur in people who don’t smoke.
Unfortunately, early lung cancer often causes no symptoms at all. By the time a person develops a persistent cough or chest pain, the disease may already be advanced and may have spread to other parts of the body.
When it comes to lung cancer, Chattanooga, TN, patients are no different from anyone else: catching it early gives them the best chance of benefiting from effective treatment.
Who Qualifies for Lung Cancer Screening?
Consider an annual low-dose CT scan if you are between 50 and 80 years old, have a 20-pack-year smoking history, and either still smoke or quit within the last 15 years. (A “pack-year” equals smoking one pack a day for one year. For example, 20 pack-years could mean smoking one pack a day for 20 years or two packs a day for 10 years.)
If you’re not sure whether you qualify under the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendations, talk to your physician. They can review your medical history with you and confirm whether screening is right for you.
Breast Calcifications and Lung Nodules
On imaging, breast calcifications can sometimes look like lung nodules, which is why careful interpretation of screening results is so important.
On a standard chest X-ray, small calcium deposits in breast tissue can appear to sit inside the lungs, which may be mistaken for a lung nodule. To tell the difference, we compare new images with your previous chest imaging and mammograms to pinpoint where the calcifications actually are.
Most lung nodules are benign and not a sign of cancer. At our clinic, we carefully review the size, shape, and location of any suspected nodule, then consider it alongside your medical history and risk factors to determine whether follow-up is needed.
Our Lung Cancer Nodule Program supports this process with advanced imaging and expert evaluation.
Be Proactive About your Lung Health and Schedule a Screening Conversation
This Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we encourage you to take a proactive approach to your lung health. If you have a cough that won’t go away, are experiencing chest pain, or have a history of smoking, reach out to our team.
To schedule a consultation with a lung cancer specialist, call us at 423-710-3864 or visit one of our locations.
Chattanooga’s leading lung doctor, Dr. Mike Czarnecki, MD, is renowned for delivering exceptional care and innovative treatments in pulmonary medicine. Whether you need a quick check-in to discuss symptoms or want to make sure your medications are optimized, a telehealth appointment can help you stay on top of your health from anywhere you go this holiday season. Click here to contact us to book an appointment.
