Early CT scans deliver huge fall in lung cancer deaths, study shows

Screening smokers and ex-smokers could dramatically reduce deaths from lung cancer – Britain’s biggest cancer killer – a major new study has found.

Low-dose computerised tomography (CT) scans can detect tumours in people’s lungs early and cut deaths by 16%, according to the UK Lung Cancer Screening Trial (UKLS).

The findings have prompted renewed calls from lung cancer experts for the government to bring in routine screening across the UK of all those who are at risk because of their smoking history. They say that early detection means patients can have potentially curative surgery or radiotherapy.

“Lung cancer early detection and surgical intervention saves lives,” said Professor John Field of Liverpool University, an author of the trial. 

Read full story

Source: The Guardian, 12 September 2021