DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I am 62 and recently had a physical. My doctor suggested that I should be screened for lung cancer. I used to smoke a pack of cigarettes a day but quit about a decade ago. I've not had any problems, so I'm wondering if this is necessary. What does screening involve?
ANSWER: More than 600,000 people die annually from cancer in the U.S. Lung cancer remains the leading cause, accounting for about 25% of all deaths. More people die in the U.S. each year from lung cancer than from colon, breast and prostate cancer combined.
Well-conducted and reputable studies have shown, however, that a properly organized screening program can reduce the number of people who die from lung cancer by 20%.
