Last week, the American Cancer Society (ACS) announced big changes to its lung cancer screening guidelines. As of November 1, five million more Americans who smoke or used to smoke should now get annual lung cancer screenings. The total number of eligible individuals has risen to 20 million. For most employers and unions, this means a larger percentage of your population will now need screening to have the best chance at catching lung cancer early, avoiding the devastating effects of a serious cancer on your employees and their families — and on your business.
The updated guidelines apply to anyone over age 50 and under age 80 who smoked 20 pack-years of cigarettes — the equivalent of one pack every day for 20 years, two packs daily for 10 years, and so on. Before the changes, screenings were recommended for a more narrow age range, 55 to 74, and people could stop screenings once 15 years had passed since they stopped smoking. New research shows that risk of lung cancer for those with a history of smoking continues to increase as they age — regardless of when they quit. This change is about guidelines finally catching up to clinical reality.
