An Important Tool for Lung Cancer Detection

According to the American Cancer Society, lung cancer is the second most common cancer in both men and women. For people who smoke, the risk is much higher. Early detection is key, as lung cancer is more treatable when it is caught early.

At Cape Cod Healthcare, Low Dose CT lung scan (LDCT) is now used as a lung cancer screening tool for those at increased risk for developing lung cancer, which is mostly smokers or those who have quit smoking within the past 15 years. Available at Cape Cod Hospital and Falmouth Hospital, this type of CT scan uses much less radiation than regular CT screening, does not require needles and shows much more detail than a chest X-Ray. Dr. Jeffrey Spillane, a general and thoracic surgeon with CCHC, explains that “just as people get mammograms and colonoscopies...we’ve learned to screen for [lung cancer].”

Here is more from Dr. Spillane, including if you or a loved one could be a candidate for LDCT:

What is low dose CT lung cancer screening & how can it detect lung cancer early?

Who is a good candidate for low dose CT lung cancer screening? Jeffrey Spillane, MD, FACS

What are the next steps for a patient with positive low dose CT scan? Jeffrey Spillane, MD, FACS

For additional resources on quitting smoking, visit our smoking cessation page.