Cancer screening is a proactive, preventative step that can identify cancers before any symptoms appear. Screening involves checking for cancer with the aim of catching it in the early stages, meaning treatment is more likely to be successful and survival rates are increased.
ONE STEP AT A TIME, TOGETHER
Click here to learn about the importance of lung cancer screening
Why screen for lung cancer?
Lung cancer is the most common cancer globally, with 90% of cases being linked to smoking. In the UAE, smoking rates, which includes alternative forms of tobacco such as shisha and medwakh, are higher than the global average, meaning lung cancer causes a significant number of cancer-related deaths.
But lung cancer can be detected through routine screening. Lung cancer screening involves testing healthy patients, who may be at increased risk of developing the disease, when no signs or symptoms are present. The aim is to catch the disease when it is in the early stages so it can be treated and cured
Who should get screened for lung cancer?
The award-winning cancer screening program at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi offers advanced screening technology to diagnose lung cancer early and improve outcome prognosis and treatment options for patients. The hospital’s Respiratory Institute states that screening is particularly important if you fulfill the following criteria.
- You are over the age of 50
- You smoke, or you quit smoking less than 15 years ago
- You have a history of smoking at least one pack every day for 30 years
- You have smoked medwakh or Sheesha for 20 years
For those that still smoke, enrollment on the hospital’s internationally-recognized smoking cessation program is offered.
What does lung cancer screening involve?
Screening for lung cancer involves a low-dose computed tomography (CT) scan to look at the lungs and identify any lesions or abnormalities. A CT scan is a painless, non-invasive test that involves lying on your back on a table while a large, donut-shaped machine takes pictures of your lungs. You may be asked to wear a hospital gown and remove any metal or jewelry that you are wearing as this can interfere with the machine. The scan will take less than a minute to perform.
CT scans combine X-ray pictures from many different angles to produce a clear image of your lungs. This type of screening has been proven to reduce the number of people who die from lung cancer.
What happens after lung cancer screening?
When lung cancer screening is performed, small spots, called lung nodules, are identified in around 25% of people. Most are harmless, but in a small percentage of people they are found to be cancerous. The only way to tell if they are cancerous or not is by performing further tests.
If the nodules are small, assessment can involve simply monitoring them to see if they grow, but sometimes diagnostic tests are required. These minimally invasive procedures can all be performed within one setting within Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi’s hybrid operating rooms, reducing the need for multiple procedures and patient transfers. Diagnostic tests can include:
- Bronchoscopy: a procedure in which a long flexible tube examines inside the lungs and collects samples
- Endobronchial ultrasound: using a bronchoscope to take biopsies of the lungs and lymph nodes under ultrasound guidance.
- Mediastinoscopy: a procedure to view the space between the lungs and take biopsies
- Transthoracic CT guided biopsy: a method used to take a biopsy of the lung nodules
- Thoracoscopy: using a camera inserted through an incision in the chest, to view the lung area
if cancer is diagnosed following routine screening and diagnostic tests, it is likely to have been detected early, which is crucial for effective management of the disease. speak to a doctor to determine whether you should attend routine lung cancer screening.
Lung cancer screening saves lives. If you are at risk, book yours today.