Health Panel Urges Smokers to Get Lung Cancer Screens
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On Monday, Dr. Virginia Moyer, Chairwoman for the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force, made a recommendation that heavy smokers get checked for lung cancer through a CT scan procedure.
By heavy smokers following this recommendation, it is estimated that annual lung cancer-related deaths could be decreased by 20,000. CT scans would allow for early detection when the disease is treatable.
This recommendation is good news to physicians and other patient advocates because it increases the likelihood that private insurers and Medicare will cover the CT screening procedure with no patient co-pay.
Typically, chest X-rays have been used instead of CT scans for determining the existence of lung tumors. However, it is difficult to see the small tumors and when they are detected the cancer is advanced and possibly terminal.
The CT scan can detect much smaller lung tumors giving a greater chance for treatment.
Monday’s recommendation is targeted at those between the ages of 55 and 80 with a current or past history of smoking a minimum of one pack per day for at least 30 years.
The task force did not target lower-risk smokers because CT scans have such a level of detail that they can detect even harmless abnormalities. This would lead to diagnoses, biopsies, and surgeries that are unnecessary thus adding to taxpayer costs and putting the patient at unwarranted risk.
A spokesperson for the task force said it will take comments from the public until August 26. After that it will make its final recommendation before channeling it to authorities to make it official.
The task force receives backing from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) per Congressional directive. Also associated with the DHHS is the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) in the City of Rockville, Maryland.
The 1998 Public Health Service Act plus 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) direct the AHRQ to provide the necessary research and technical support to the task force.
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