Lung screening is best for those who are at high-risk for lung cancer and who are not experiencing any symptoms. Call the Lung Screening Program at 1-877-717-5864 if you:
- Are 55 to 74 years of age, and
- Have a significant history of regularly smoking commercial tobacco (cigarettes, cigars, etc), currently or in the past.
The Lung Screening Program will ask you questions about your smoking and health history. Your answers to these questions will help determine your lung cancer risk and whether screening is right for you. Not everyone who meets the above requirements will be eligible for lung screening. A risk assessment over the phone is needed to confirm eligibility.
People who do not meet the above screening requirements are generally not considered high-risk for lung cancer. Similar to any screening test, there are
benefits and limitations to lung screening. If you do not have a significant smoking history, lung screening may not be right for you.
Screening is also not suitable for anyone experiencing lung cancer symptoms, including:
- Coughing that does not go away or gets worse;
- Coughing up blood or rust-coloured sputum (spit or phlegm);
- Shortness of breath or chest pain that is always felt and gets worse with deep breathing or coughing.
If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms, please talk to your primary care provider. It is important to monitor your health and be aware of any unusual changes - even if there were no concerns found from your recent lung scan.