I-ELCAP's lung cancer screening program involves getting regular low-dose CT scans that let doctors look for abnormalities like cancer. For most people, the scans are done once per year; if a scan shows something that may be an early cancer, the scans may be done more frequently to monitor for changes.
CT scans are painless, and the low-dose CT scans used for lung cancer screening expose patients to roughly the same amount of radiation as a mammogram. The cost of a CT scan varies depending on where you get it, but is generally between $200 and $500. You may also want to read about the FAMRI and Legacy studies, which offer screening at no cost to those who qualify.
If you are concerned about your lung cancer risk and wonder if you should be getting screened, you should talk it over with your doctor. We also encourage you to spend some time browsing the information on this site to help you understand lung cancer and lung cancer screening.
There are dozens of I-ELCAP member sites around the world, providing lung cancer screening based on I-ELCAP's research and standards. You can search for an I-ELCAP screening site here.