Early Detection and Screening for Lung Cancer in Black Americans
*Please note: This slide show is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your doctor about any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Why is screening for lung cancer important for Black Americans?
Lung canceris more likely to be cured when it's detected very early. At early stages, patients often don't have symptoms. Screening is a way to detect lung cancer at this early, curable stage.
Why is screening for lung cancer important for Black Americans?
In a large study, screening found more than half of lung cancers before the patient had any symptoms. Black people who were screened in the study had a lower risk of dying from lung cancer than White people.
Why are Black Americans less likely to be screened for lung cancer?
But, compared with White Americans, Black Americans are:
Less likely to be screened for lung cancer
More likely to not know about screening for lung cancer
More likely to not have health insurance
Why are Black Americans less likely to be screened for lung cancer?
Black Americans may also be less likely to get screened for lung cancer because of mistrust of the medical system. Because of racism and past abuses like the Tuskegee health study, in which Black men with syphilis were denied effective treatment, there is a sense of distrust among certain members of the Black community.
Lung cancer is a major health problem among Black Americans
Lung cancer is the leading cause of death from cancer for Black American men and the second leading cause among Black American women. More Black American men die from lung cancer each year than men from any other group.
Lung cancer is a major health problem among Black Americans
Compared with White Americans, Black Americans with lung cancer are:
Diagnosed at a younger age
Less likely to be diagnosed at an early, curable stage
Less likely to have surgery, an effective treatment for early-stage lung cancer
Less likely to live for 5 years after their diagnosis
Benefits of lung cancer screening for Black Americans
The bottom line is: For Black Americans at high risk for lung cancer, screening can save lives – and the best time to get screened is before you feel sick.
Who’s eligible for lung cancer screening?
You're eligible for lung cancer screening if:
You're between 50 and 80 years old; and
You currently smoke, or you quit less than 15 years ago; and
You've smoked a pack a day for 20 years or two packs a day for at least 10 years; and
You have no symptoms that could be caused by lung cancer.
Symptoms that could be caused by lung cancer
Symptoms that could be caused by lung cancer include:
A persistent cough
Chest pain
Shortness of breath
Coughing up blood
Persistent tiredness
Unintentional weight loss
If you're eligible for lung cancer screening, you'll get the most benefit if you have the test once a year.
What happens in a lung cancer screening test?
The test is done with a CT scanner and is quick and painless. You lie flat on a table while the scanner takes dozens of pictures. A computer then converts the pictures into detailed images of your lungs.
What happens in a lung cancer screening test?
You don’t need to fast, get injections, or do any other preparation for the test. You will need to remove any metal you’re wearing, such as jewelry. If you’re feeling sick, you’ll need to reschedule the test for when you feel better.
Will health insurance pay for lung cancer screening?
Medicare and most private health insurance plans will pay for lung cancer screening.
If you’re on Medicaid, you’ll need to ask whether your state covers it, as coverage varies state-by-state.
What are the risks of screening for lung cancer?
Like any medical procedure, a low-dose CT lung cancer screening test has some risks:
It involves a very small amount of radiation – about as much as everyone gets in 6 months from exposure to Earth's natural background radiation.
If the scan finds something, you may need additional imaging tests to find out if it's cancer.
In rare cases, the scan may find something that looks concerning outside of the lungs. If this happens, you may need additional tests.
Questions to ask about lung cancer screening
Don't hesitate to ask questions about screening for lung cancer. Here are some questions you might have:
Why should I get screened when I don't feel sick or have symptoms?
Where should I go for screening?
How long will it take to get my results?
Will someone explain the results to me?
What are the next steps after the test?
Talk to a trusted healthcare adviser today!
Talk to a trusted healthcare adviser today about screening for lung cancer. Ask if it’s right for you and where you can go to get it.
If you smoke, ask about getting help to quit. You’ll get the most benefit from lung cancer screening if you also quit smoking.
References
American Cancer Society. Lung Cancer Early Detection, Diagnosis, and Staging. Last revised: January 18, 2023. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/lung-cancer/detection-diagnosis-staging/detection.html
American Lung Association. Racial and Ethnic Disparities. Last updated: October 28, 2022. https://www.lung.org/research/state-of-lung-cancer/racial-and-ethnic-disparities
American Lung Association. What to Expect from a Lung Cancer Screening.
https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/lung-cancer/screening-resources/what-to-expect-from-lung-cancer-screening
Carter-Harris L, Slaven JE Jr, Monahan PO, et al. Understanding lung cancer screening behavior: Racial, gender, and geographic differences among Indiana long-term smokers. Prev Med Rep. 2018;10:49-54.
Healthline.com. Can CT Scans Accurately Detect Lung Cancer? Last reviewed: June 16, 2022. https://www.healthline.com/health/lung-cancer/how-accurate-is-ct-scan-for-lung-cancer
Healthline.com. Race, Ethnicity, and Lung Cancer: An Expert Perspective on Improving Care. Last reviewed: November 19, 2020.
https://www.healthline.com/health/lung-cancer/race-ethnicity-and-lung-cancer
Lake M, Shusted CS, Juon HS, et al. Black patients referred to a lung cancer screening program experience lower rates of screening and longer time to follow-up. BMC Cancer. 2020;20(1):561.
Lung Cancer Research Foundation. Know your risk: lung cancer and Black Americans.
https://www.lungcancerresearchfoundation.org/for-patients/kyr-2023/kyr-black-americans
Lungevity. Questions to Ask Your Healthcare Team.
https://www.lungevity.org/screening-for-lung-cancer/early-lung-cancer-screening/questions-to-ask-your-healthcare-team
Medical News Today. What happens after you quit smoking? Last reviewed: November 19, 2018. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/317956#outlook
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Six Myths about Lung Cancer Screening: What You Need to Know. Last updated: November 2, 2020.
https://www.mskcc.org/news/six-myths-about-lung-cancer-screening-what-you-need-know
The National Lung Screening Trial Research Team. Reduced Lung-Cancer Mortality with Low-Dose Computed Tomographic Screening. N Engl J Med. 2011;365:395-409.
US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. What Are the Symptoms of Lung Cancer? Last reviewed: October 25, 2022.
https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/lung/basic_info/symptoms.htm
US Preventive Services Task Force. Final Recommendation Statement – Lung Cancer: Screening. Last updated: March 09, 2021.
https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recommendation/lung-cancer-screening
Slide Show - Early Detection and Screening for Lung Cancer in Black Americans
This slide show provides an overview of the importance of early detection and screening for lung cancer in Black Americans. Lung cancer is the leading cause of death from cancer for Black American men and the second leading cause among Black American women. More Black American men die from lung cancer each year than men from any other group. For Black Americans at high risk for lung cancer, screening can save lives – and the best time to get screened is before you feel sick. You can learn about the symptoms that could be caused by lung cancer, the risks and benefits of lung cancer screening, who iseligible for screening, what happens during a lung cancer screening test (low-dose CT scan), and questions to ask your doctor about this procedure.
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