What are the benefits and risks of lung cancer screening?

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Dr. Abbie Begnaud, a lung cancer specialist, discusses the benefits and risks of lung cancer screening. She explains the primary benefit of a low-dose CT scan is early detection of lung cancer when treatment may work better. Researchers have studied the safety of low-dose CT for more than 20 years. The results show that screening as recommended, for people who are eligible to be screened, is a low-risk and safe way to prevent many deaths from lung cancer. Dr. Begnaud also talks about the downsides of a low-dose CT scan which include radiation exposure, the potential for “incidental” findings, and false positives, which can lead to additional testing and anxiety. She emphasizes shared decision-making with your healthcare team, discussing the benefits, limitations, and potential risks of screening.