Lung cancer screening is a crucial tool in catching lung cancer early and potentially saving lives. However, despite recommendations for screening in the U.S. for individuals with a history of smoking, only 18% of eligible individuals actually undergo screening. A recent study published in JAMA by researchers at Mass General Brigham sheds light on potential reasons for this low screening rate.
The researchers analyzed data from the 2022 U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System dataset, focusing on 28,483 individuals aged 50 to 79 who were eligible for lung cancer screening. Surprisingly, they found that while only 17–18% of eligible individuals received lung cancer screening, a much higher rate of 65% received breast and colorectal cancer screening.
Lead author Alexandra Potter, a researcher at MGH, noted that this discrepancy suggests that individuals eligible for lung cancer screening are not necessarily resistant to preventive health care services. Instead, the complex eligibility criteria for lung cancer screening, which include age and smoking history requirements, may be a barrier. Additionally, challenges in accessing lung cancer screening clinics likely contribute to the low screening rates.
The researchers emphasized the need for interventions to increase awareness of lung cancer screening and reduce barriers preventing high-risk individuals from undergoing screening. Senior author Dr. Chi-Fu Jeffrey Yang stressed the importance of community efforts to improve awareness and address barriers to screening.
In conclusion, the study highlights the importance of addressing the barriers that prevent high-risk individuals from getting screened for lung cancer. By increasing awareness and accessibility to screening services, more lives can potentially be saved through early detection and treatment of lung cancer.
For more information, you can refer to the study published in JAMA titled “Preventive Health Care Use Among Adults Eligible for Lung Cancer Screening in the US” DOI: 10.1001/jama.2025.2157. Additional authors from Mass General Brigham include Soneesh Kothagundla, Chinmay Haridas, Allison E.B. Chang, and Lecia V. Sequist.
This article was provided by Mass General Brigham. For more information, you can visit their website at https://www.massgeneralbrigham.org/en.
