Are you a current or former smoker who’s thinking about getting a screening for lung cancer? Maybe you have an appointment scheduled, or you’re awaiting results.

At any of these stages, you likely have questions.

Norton Cancer Institute lung screening patient navigators are dedicated to coordinating your screening, providing follow-up, answering your questions and scheduling any additional care you may need. Here are questions patients may have about a screening.

What is the screening process?

You will begin the process by talking with your primary care provider to ensure you qualify for a screening. Your primary care provider’s office then will order and schedule the lung cancer screening. After your screening, a board-certified radiologist will review your scan. If an abnormality is found, your physician may recommend you see one of the lung specialists with the Norton Cancer Institute Comprehensive Lung Center.

How long will it take to get my results?

Your physician or the lung screening navigator will give you the results of your scan, usually within five days. If you have an abnormal screening, you will be notified by phone, and immediate arrangements will be made for a doctor specializing in lung cancer treatment to meet with you. If you have not received your results after 10 days, please call your physician.

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Will my insurance cover the cost of the screening?

Annual follow-up lung CT scans are covered by Medicare and private insurance companies for people ages 50 to 77 who meet the following:

Are current smokers or former smokers who quit less than 15 years ago
Have no lung cancer signs or symptoms
Smoked an average of 20 cigarettes a day for at least 20 years
Have an order from their health care provider

Check with your insurance company if you have any questions about your benefit plan. If you need to pay for a lung cancer screening CT scan out of pocket, the cost is $100.

How does the CT scan work?

The lung cancer screening CT scan uses a lower dose of radiation than a conventional CT scan. This low-dose CT scan is quick and painless, and it does not involve intravenous injections. The CT scan rapidly collects images from all angles around the chest, giving hundreds of detailed views of the lungs. It can spot tiny abnormalities that often are too small to be seen on a standard chest X-ray.

Is there any risk with a lung cancer screening?

A CT lung cancer screening, like an X-ray, increases radiation exposure, which can be harmful. For this and other reasons, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends an annual low-dose CT lung cancer screening for those between the ages of 50 and 80 who have quit in the past 15 years or currently smoke and have a history of smoking at least 20 cigarettes a day for at least 20 years.

Annual screening tests should be discontinued once a person has not smoked in 15 years or becomes gravely ill.

Other risks include false positive or false negative results.

Is smoking the only risk factor for lung cancer?

Smoking puts you at high risk for lung cancer and is the No. 1 risk factor, according to the American Cancer Society.

Other risk factors include:

Secondhand smoke: The third-leading cause of lung cancer comes from inhaling smoke from others.
Exposure to radon:. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency classifies radon as the No. 2 cause of lung cancer in the U.S. and the top cause among people who don’t smoke. Radon is an invisible gas that has no smell or taste. It occurs naturally and isn’t considered dangerous outdoors. But inside a home or building it can be concentrated and expose your lungs to radiation.
Exposure to asbestos: Lung cancer death is more common among people who work with asbestos.
Previous radiation therapy to the chest: People who have had radiation exposure to the lungs to treat other cancers such as Hodgkin lymphoma or breast cancer have a higher risk of lung cancer. However, radiation therapy to the breast after a lumpectomy does not appear to increase risk.

How effective is lung cancer screening?

Lung cancer mortality increases dramatically if the malignancy has had time to spread. Overall, about 25% of lung cancer patients will survive at least five years, according to the National Cancer Institute. The survival rate is almost 65% for those whose cancer was detected and treated while still confined to the primary site.

Are lung nodules normal?

You should not be overly concerned if your report indicates you have small, noncalcified lung nodules. Most people who meet eligibility for screening will have some. A majority of these nodules are benign. However, the only way to know if it is cancer is to monitor these nodules over a period of time for changes or growth.

Why are repeat screenings necessary?

The CT scan is sensitive to most nodules, even when very small. These nodules often are so small there is no way of knowing whether lung cancer is present. An annual lung cancer screening is important to see if any change or growth has occurred over time, which could indicate early lung cancer. To effectively screen for lung cancer, a repeat CT screening typically is recommended; however, a follow-up CT lung screening may be advised sooner for some nodules.

Screening for lung cancer: Questions and answers