HJNO May/Jun 2019

Healthcare Journal of new orleans I  MAY / JUN 2019 47 David Patten, MD Pulmonologist and Critical Care Specialist Thibodaux Regional Medical Center mer smokers, as well as people who have smoked for many years should consider screening. Lung cancer screening is usual- ly offered to people over the age of 55. Lung cancer screening is available to those with a 30 pack year or longer histo- ry of smoking. A pack year is calculated by multiplying the number of packs smoked per day on average over the year, by the number of years smoked. For example, someone who smoked one pack per day for 30 years has a 30 pack year history of smoking. Lung Cancer or Lung Carcinoma Lung cancer or lung carcinoma is a malignant tumor of the lung with uncon- trolled growth of tissues in the lung. This growth can cause damage to the lungs and spread to other parts of the body. Common symptoms include cough, coughing up blood, weight loss, loss of appetite, chest pain with deep inspiration, shortness of breath, fatigue, and recurrent respiratory infections. However, these symptoms are nonspecific and can be caused by other processes. Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer related deaths, accounting for approximately 27 percent of all cancer re- lated deaths. The majority of lung cancer is related to long term tobacco smoking. Approximately 20 percent of Americans are current smokers. Others at risk include those with a family history of lung cancer, COPD, pulmonary fibrosis, and environ- mental and occupational exposures. Lung cancer screening for individuals at high risk has the capacity to significantly improve lung cancer survival by detecting the disease at an earlier stage when it is more likely to be curable. Over 75 percent of people with lung cancer present with incurable advanced local or metastatic disease. Approximately 8 million Americans qualify for lung cancer screening. If only half of these people were screened, it is estimated that over 12,000 lung cancer deaths could be prevented. Those Who Do Not Meet Criteria There are people who are concerned about their risk of developing lung can- cer but do not meet the present criteria. Those people may have a history of expo- sure to known carcinogens such as radon, coal gasification, tars, silica, second hand smoke, or have a family history of lung cancer. Presently there is not enough ev- idence to know whether screening would be beneficial or harmful for them. Screen- ing in a lower risk population increases the risk of finding abnormalities that are not cancer but undergo a potentially expen- sive and invasive work up. Take Action Lung cancer is a disease with a high mortality in large part due to the fact that it is often not found until an advanced stage. Lung cancer screening for high risk in- dividuals has the potential to significantly improve lung cancer survival by finding the disease at an earlier stage while it is still curable. Presently low dose computerized to- mography (LDCT) scan is recommended for high risk individuals with a significant smoking history as described above. Lung cancer screening is greatly bene- ficial for many people. If you believe lung cancer screening is right for you, or have other questions, please speak with your doctor. n Dr. David Patten, pulmonologist and critical care specialist, received a medical degree from the Uni- versity of Utah School of Medicine in Salt Lake City. He completed a residency in internal medicine at Tulane Medical Center in New Orleans, where he also served as chief resident. Additionally, Dr. Pat- ten completed a fellowship in pulmonary and criti- cal care at Tulane University Medical Center in New Orleans. He is board certified in pulmonary medi- cine by the American Board of Internal Medicine. Lung cancer cells “Approximately 8 million Americans qualify for lung cancer screening.”