Health Awareness: Dr. Rich talks lung cancer screening

Dr. Patricia Rich from Parkview Health talked with FOX 55's Brian Miller about the importance of and requirements for lung cancer screening for this week's Health Awareness segment.

Dr. Rich said screening is important because early detection can save lives.

There are requirements for screening. "The requirements at this time is someone who is between the ages of 50 and 80," Dr. Rich explained, "who has a 20-pack year of smoking."

She said 20-pack year smoking refers to someone who has, for example, smoked one pack a day for 20 years, or half a pack a day for 40 years, etc.

She continued that other requirements for screening include anyone who "are current smokers or have quit smoking in the past 15 years."

Current technology is a low-dose CT scan that is able to detect smaller nodules, leading to earlier diagnosis.