If you or someone you love is at risk of lung cancer, catching it early can change everything. This article explains why early detection matters and how timely treatment can lead to better outcomes and more options.
Lung Cancer Screening and Prevention
Find lung cancer early — when it’s most treatable. Learn who should get a yearly low-dose CT scan.
Lung Cancer Screening and Prevention
Find lung cancer early — when it’s most treatable. Learn who should get a yearly low-dose CT scan.
Lung cancer screening may save your life
Lung cancer is the second-most common cancer in both men and women in the United States, not counting skin cancer. It is also the leading cause of death from cancer.
The good news is that the number of new lung cancer cases continues to decrease, in part because more people are quitting smoking or never starting. Also, advances in early detection and treatment are leading to significantly higher survival rates (greater than 80%).
Who should get a lung cancer screening?
If you’re a heavy smoker or smoked heavily in the past, getting a lung cancer screening each year may save your life.
Talk to your primary care doctor about getting an annual lung screening if you:
- Are between 50 and 80 years old
- Smoke now or have quit within the last 15 years
- Have smoked at least one pack per day for at least 20 years or smoked two packs per day for 10 years
Lung cancer risk factors
Several factors can increase your risk of lung cancer:
- Tobacco smoke: Smoking or breathing second-hand smoke causes more than 85% of lung cancers
- A family history of lung cancer
- Your personal history of cancer: Lung cancer, Hodgkin or non-Hodgkin lymphoma, or head or neck cancer
- Your personal history of lung disease: Emphysema, chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD) or pulmonary fibrosis
- Exposure to cancer-causing gases, chemicals or minerals: Examples include radon and asbestos
- Radiation exposure: Including from occupational, medical or environmental sources
How to schedule a lung cancer screening
UW Medicine and Fred Hutch Cancer Center, an independent organization that serves as the adult cancer program for UW Medicine, offer screening options. If you already have a referral for a lung cancer screening, call to schedule your scan. If you think you qualify for lung screening, request an order from your primary care provider.
Schedule a CT scan for lung cancer screening
If you have a referral (order) for lung cancer screening, call 206.606.1434 to schedule at one of our imaging centers.
Request a lung screening order
Current patients can message your primary care provider in MyChart -- or call – to ask for a lung cancer screening order.
Start an on-demand video visit
See the first available primary care provider. Available daily, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. New patients welcome. Interpreters are available.
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Radiology at UW Medical Center – Roosevelt
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Radiology at Northwest Outpatient Medical Center
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Radiology Services at Eastside Specialty Center
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Radiology Services at Harborview Medical Center
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Radiology at Fred Hutch Cancer Center – South Lake Union
Insurance, referrals and interpreter services
Will my insurance cover lung cancer screening?
Most insurance plans and Medicare help pay for recommended lung cancer screening tests. UW Medicine accepts most major insurance plans. All patients should verify their insurance coverage before completing a visit.
Do I need a referral to make an appointment?
If you think you qualify for the lung cancer screening, you will need your primary care provider to complete an order form for the CT scan. Call or message your primary care provider to complete the order form. Next, you can schedule the CT scan at one of the location shown above.
Do you offer interpreter services?
We offer Interpreter Services in over 80 languages and dialects provided by qualified medical interpreters — available in person, by phone or video. For patients who are blind, deaf or hard of hearing, please call TTY 206.520.0711.
Understanding the CT scan and next steps
What is a low-dose CT scan?
The low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) scan is the only test shown to detect lung cancer early, before symptoms appear. During the scan, you lie on a table while an X-ray machine takes images from different angles. A computer combines these into a detailed picture of your lungs.
How long does a lung cancer screening take?
The CT lung scan is quick and painless. From check‑in to completion, most visits take 30 minutes, with the scan itself lasting only 10 to 15 minutes.
What happens next?
If your CT scan shows lung nodules and other abnormalities, we will refer your lung scan to the experts at Fred Hutch Cancer Center, an independent organization that serves as the adult cancer program for UW Medicine.
The multidisciplinary team of national experts will review your images and provide you with a comprehensive assessment of the nodule findings during the visit.
Learn more about lung cancer prevention and care at Fred Hutch »
How often should screening be done?
The low-dose CT scan is recommended yearly for those who meet the medical guidelines. Talk to your primary care provider about your individual risk factors for lung cancer to determine if any of the above screenings should be completed following a different timeline.
Is screening useful for people with risk factors other than smoking?
Some non-smokers may benefit if they have other risks, such as workplace exposures or a family history of lung cancer. Discuss your risks with your primary care provider.
What are healthy habits to lower your lung cancer risk?
If you use tobacco, quitting is the most important thing you can do for your health. The Fred Hutch Cancer Center is here to help with Living Tobacco Free Services. The program’s experienced specialists will take the time to understand your challenges when it comes to quitting. Then, they’ll work with you to find the support and resources you need to quit for good.
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