WASHINGTON, Nov 5, (Agencies): The American Cancer Society (ACS) has recently updated its guidelines on lung cancer screening, suggesting that millions more Americans should undergo this essential health check. This revision, the first in a decade, broadens the criteria for eligibility.

According to the new ACS recommendations, both men and women aged 50 to 80, who are current or former smokers and have a 20-pack-year smoking history, should receive an annual lung cancer screening. A pack-year is defined as smoking an average of one pack of cigarettes per day for one year. The recommended screening method is a low-dose computed tomography scan, which utilizes X-rays to generate detailed images of the individual's lungs.

This updated guideline marks a significant shift from the previous recommendation issued in 2013. The earlier guideline urged adults between the ages of 55 to 74 to undergo screening if they had smoked or quit smoking less than 15 years ago and had a 30-pack-year smoking history.

Dr. Robert Smith, senior vice president of early cancer detection science at the American Cancer Society and lead author of the lung cancer screening guideline report, expressed his optimism about these changes, stating, "This updated guideline continues a trend of expanding eligibility for lung cancer screening in a way that will result in many more deaths prevented by expanding the eligibility criteria for screening to detect lung cancer early. Recent studies have shown extending the screening age for persons who smoke and formerly smoked, eliminating the 'years since quitting' requirement and lowering the pack per year recommendation could make a real difference in saving lives."

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States, according to the ACS. They estimate that approximately 240,000 new cases of lung cancer will be diagnosed in 2023, with approximately 127,000 individuals succumbing to the disease. While lung cancer can affect people of any age, it primarily afflicts older individuals, as most patients diagnosed with the disease are aged 65 or older, as per the ACS.