In providing radon-related technical assistance to citizens across the country, radon professionals are asked about screening for lung cancer by many different populations including concerned individuals, family members, and medical professionals.
Should I be tested for lung cancer because of this radon exposure? What is my risk of getting lung cancer from this exposure?
Where can I get more information?
As nonmedical personnel, what can the radon professional provide in response? What is a prudent recommendation for these concerned individuals? Many times, the discussion turns to the issues of whether lung cancer screening is available, warranted, useful and/or recommended.
Our first duty is always to encourage individuals to bring their medical questions to their medical care provider(s). If someone has been exposed to high levels of radon over a long period of time, this advice is especially warranted. For example, such persons may want to speak to their physicians about whether they should get regular health checkups or tests such as low-dose CT scans of their lungs to look for possible signs of lung cancer.
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Prepared by Bruce Snead et al. Engineering Extension
Kansas State University 133 Ward Hall
Manhattan, KS 66506
www.engext.ksu.edu | www.sosradon.org
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While talking to physicians is appropriate, of course, we also know that radon exposure risk evaluation and lung cancer screening recommendations for that exposure are not common topics for most family practitioners. Other radiation exposures and individual lung risk factors increase the difficulty of response to those with concerns. Added to this fact is that no authority has come forward with radon- exposure-based lung cancer screening recommendations as general guidance for the public.
Current status of non-radon-based recom- mendations and guidance is provided by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Issues Draft Recommendation Statement on Screening for Lung Cancer, which can be viewed at:
http://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org
In addition reviews of the National Lung Cancer Screening Trials report at http:// www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1301851 will help identify those who are at greatest risk for lung cancer and who may be appropriate candidates for screening.