Lung cancer screening

Lung cancer screening is a procedure that focuses on early detection of lesions likely to be cancerous or that may evolve towards cancer in order to provide better treatment for them and increase the chances of a cure.

Although lung cancer is frequently diagnosed too late, there is still no validated recommendation for systematic screening.

Numerous studies have been carried out on the usefulness of systematic screening examinations for this cancer in order to reduce mortality, but with the exception of one sole study performed on patients meeting specific criteria and on which the results are still to be confirmed, no study seems to encourage systematic screening for lung cancer. 

At the HUG, an indication for lung cancer screening will be assessed by the team of experts based on the situations presented by patients. The diagnostic methods used and the wide-ranging expertise of the cancer treatment teams are the guarantors of reliable diagnostic results and a leading-edge treatment strategy.

Reliable criteria for lung cancer screening are difficult to determine and prevention remains the most effective means of reducing mortality.

Not smoking or stopping smoking as early as possible is still the most important way of preventing lung cancer.