Kentucky an ideal state for lung cancer screening

BOWLING GREEN, Ky-Lung cancer is the most prevalent form of cancer and according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 3,000 people died from the disease in 2019 alone.

It isn’t a coincidence that Kentucky has such high numbers since nearly a quarter of all Kentuckians smoke cigarettes-one of the key risk factors for developing lung cancer. The statewide Kentucky Health Collaborative, which includes The Medical Center at Bowling Green, is hoping to lower the death rate from lung cancer. Dr. Karan Singh, M.D. of Western Kentucky Heart & Lung say the high number of smokers and the high incidence of lung cancer makes Kentucky a prime location to carry out lung cancer screenings.

The Collaborative is now recommending screening for lung cancer for anyone between the ages of 55 and 80 who currently smoke, who have quit in the past 15 years or who have a 30-pack year smoking history.

Dr. Singh says patients should not wait until they feel sick. Symptoms such as a persistent cough and weight loss are signs that cancer could have spread beyond the lungs.  That makes treatment more complicated, requiring not only surgery but chemotherapy in later stages and can lower the chances of survival.