If you have a history of smoking and are between 50 and 80 years old, your doctor may recommend a lung cancer screening. A lung cancer screening can help catch cancer before symptoms appear. Treatment is easier and more effective at early stages, which is why diagnosing lung cancer early is so important.
Stefan Balan, MD, EMBA, is the Chief of Oncology and Hematology at Winchester Hospital, Beth Israel Lahey Clinic, and was formerly at RWJBarnabas Health in Jersey City, NJ.
References
American Cancer Society. (2023). Can lung cancer be found early?
American Cancer Society. (2019). Signs and symptoms of lung cancer.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). Screening for lung cancer.
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Written by:
Lauren Smith, MALauren Smith, MA, has worked in health journalism since 2017. Before joining GoodRx, she was the senior health editor and writer for HealthiNation.
Reviewed by:
Karen Hovav, MD, FAAPKaren Hovav, MD, FAAP, has more than 15 years of experience as an attending pediatrician. She has worked in a large academic center in an urban city, a small community hospital, a private practice, and an urgent care clinic.
