LDCT Provider Talking Points

• Screening is recommended only for asymptomatic heavy smokers ages 55 to 80 who have a 30 pack-year smoking history and are current smokers or have quit within the last 15 years.
• Quitting smoking is the best way to reduce the risk of dying from lung cancer. Screening is not a substitute for cessation.
• Screening makes sense only if the person is healthy enough, willing, and able to undergo invasive diagnostic tests and treatments.
• The absolute benefit of screening is small. To achieve this benefit the patient needs to adhere to many years of regular screening.
• Most of the lung abnormalities on CT screening are false positives.