5 million more American smokers—and former smokers—should now get screened for lung cancer annually. Here's why

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Five million additional U.S. adults should be screened annually for lung cancer, according to updated guidelines released Wednesday by the American Cancer Society.

Previous guidelines, last updated in 2013, recommended screening only for adults ages 55-74 with at least a 30 pack-year history of smoking—and who hadn’t quit smoking or quit smoking 15 or fewer years ago.