Screening tests check for cancer in people that don’t have any signs or symptoms. Screening tests can help detect cancer early, when it’s small and may be easier to treat. According to the American Cancer Society, cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States and lung cancer is the leading cancer killer in both men and women. IS A LUNG CANCER SCREENING RIGHT FOR YOU? Are you a current or former smoker age 55 to 74? Are you a current smoker or quit smoking within the last 15 years? Have you smoked at least 30 pack years? (a pack year is defined as smoking an average of one pack of cigarettes per day for one year. A person can have a 30 pack year history by smoking one pack a day for 30 years or two packs a day for 15 years.) You have not been diagnosed with lung cancer and do not have any symptoms such as a new cough or weight loss. If you answered yes to any of the above questions, you may benefit from a low-dose computed tomography lung scan, also called a low-does cat scan or LDCT. WHAT IS A LDCT SCAN? A LDCT scan is the test used for screening. It is a non-invasive test that shows more detail than an X-ray. The benefit of the LDCT scan is that it can help doctors find smaller tumors and define the shape and size. After the scan a radiologist (a doctor that is trained to read LDCT scans) will review your scan and send the results to your primary care doctor. Talk to a health care provider about your risk of lung cancer and about the possible benefits of a low-dose CT scan. For more information, please call diagnostic imaging at (810) 667-5511.