Answers to 5 Common Questions About Lung Cancer Screening

If you’re exploring lung cancer screening, you likely have some questions, including what lung cancer screening is, when you should consider it, whether symptoms appear beforehand, and what happens during the scan itself.

Our Invision Sally Jobe lung cancer screening specialists provide detailed answers to those foundational questions here. 

But if you’re ready for a deeper dive, we’ve asked our physicians and technicians to identify the most common lung cancer screening questions they hear from patients. Here are the top five:

1. How accurate is lung cancer screening?

Low-dose CT screening is currently the only imaging test shown to reduce lung cancer mortality in high-risk individuals. It’s highly sensitive, meaning it can detect very small lung nodules that wouldn’t appear on a standard chest X-ray.

That said, no screening test is perfect. Some nodules identified on screening are not cancerous. That’s why careful interpretation by experienced, board-certified radiologists is essential. At Invision Sally Jobe, we review imaging with meticulous attention to detail.

The goal is early detection paired with responsible follow-up.

2. If I quit smoking years ago, do I still need screening?

You might assume that once you stop smoking, your risk disappears. Not exactly. Your risk declines, but it doesn’t disappear. As a former smoker, you may still qualify for screening if you meet age and pack-per-year criteria.

We typically recommend screening for adults ages 50-80 who have a 20-pack-per-year smoking history and currently smoke or have quit within the past 15 years.

If you’re unsure whether you fall into that category, your primary care provider can help determine eligibility and refer you for screening, if appropriate.

3. How often do I need lung cancer screening?

For those who qualify, we generally perform lung cancer screening once a year.

Annual screening allows radiologists to compare images over time and identify any subtle changes early. Consistency is key. Skipping years can reduce the benefit of early detection.

Your referring provider will guide you on how long to continue annual screening based on your age, smoking history, and overall health.

4. Why choose us for lung cancer screening?

The advanced imaging we obtain from lung cancer screening is the best way to detect abnormalities and guide medical decisions, so quality and expertise matter.

Invision Sally Jobe provides high-quality, cost-effective imaging exams in Colorado, grounded in compassionate service, specialized care, and personalized experiences. Our outpatient imaging centers use advanced CT technology and carefully refined protocols designed specifically for lung cancer screening.

Our technologists support you through the process, and our board-certified radiologists interpret your exam with precision and clinical insight. The result is timely, reliable information your provider can use to guide your next steps.

5. What are the potential risks or downsides of screening?

It’s possible for a lung cancer screening to deliver a false positive, meaning your scan could spot something that looks suspicious but ultimately turns out to be harmless. In this case, we may schedule short-term follow-up imaging to monitor the area.

There is also the possibility of detecting slow-growing cancers that may not cause harm during your lifetime. Considering national guidelines, our experienced team carefully weighs all of these factors when determining who should be screened, which is why our eligibility criteria are so specific.

Overall, the benefits for people with high risk factors outweigh the potential drawbacks.

Expanding access to screening

We’re proud to offer lung cancer screening at multiple Invision Sally Jobe locations and are excited to expand this important service to our newest location in Colorado Springs.

If you believe you may qualify for lung cancer screening, speak with your primary care provider. When they recommend screening, our team is here to provide specialized, compassionate care every step of the way.

To learn more about our lung cancer screening service or to request an appointment. Use our online scheduling portal or call our scheduling team today. We offer screenings at our locations in Aurora, Greenwood Village, Golden, Littleton, Lone Tree, Parker, Denver, Englewood, and Colorado Springs, Colorado.