Looking for “lumps” may save you from lung cancer

Generally, CT scans are far more accurate in picking up lung nodules. 5 out of 500 CT scans successfully detect a nodule. In comparison, an X-ray has a 1 in 500 success rate.

The nodules have to be at least one centimetre long before an X-ray can detect it. CT scans can detect nodules as small as one millimetre.

CT scans are especially useful for successfully diagnosing if you have lung cancer.

Studies show that half of smokers over the age of 50 years old have chest nodules detected in their CT scans. Within the same group, there is a 50% chance of lung nodules being cancerous.

A long history of smoking ( at least 20 cigarettes a day for 15-20 years) are important clues to determine if a lung nodule is cancerous. For confirmation, a biopsy is needed where the doctor will take a small sample of the nodule to determine if it’s cancerous.

It’s important to also mention that nodules detected in a person who has never smoked in their lifetime may also be cancerous.

With that said, about 60 percent of lung nodules often turn out to be non-cancerous. Even if a lung nodule is diagnosed as cancerous, there is still a good chance that it can be cured because it is likely to be in the cancer’s early stages.

Anyone who has a set of lungs can get lung cancer regardless of his or her smoking habit.

For non-smokers, symptoms they experience may not be associated with lung nodules. Which makes early detection very important.

Unfortunately, Asian countries do not prioritise population-based cancer screening guidelines for the lungs, compared to screening for breast, colon, and cervical cancer– which helps to detect the cancer early.

So you are advised to be proactive in getting screenings for your lungs.

To identify whether a nodule on your X-ray is benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous), your doctor will have to examine and compare it with your previous X-rays.

Further tests may not be needed if the nodule or nodules have been identified to be present for a long time.

If you have no history of doing a chest X-ray, then a chest CT scan will be conducted. As we’ve mentioned, your best bet is getting early detection. Curing lung cancer is a laborious undertaking that has a slim chance of success.

If you have not done so, please book an appointment with us for a checkup of your lungs today.