New method greatly increases the chance of recovery: Lung cancer can be diagnosed early

It is low dose computed tomography. This is a special 3D x-ray examination that creates images of specific organs or areas of the body. This allows lung cancer to be detected at an earlier stage. The national lung cancer screening program offers this lung screening as a preventative examination. “Our mission is to reduce the high mortality rate from lung cancer,” says Jürg Hurter (88), President of the Foundation.

“Our program specifically targets people at high risk of lung cancer,” says Hurter. These include people aged 50 and over who are primarily smokers or heavy smokers, that is, smoked a pack of cigarettes every day for at least 20 years. 80 percent of lung cancer diagnoses are caused by smoking. The risk group also includes people over 50 with a family history of lung cancer. The same goes for people who are regularly exposed to secondhand smoke or other substances that cause lung cancer, such as asbestos or diesel fumes, over a long period of time.

Those who want to be examined can register themselves. “By using an intake questionnaire, we ensure that the person falls into the risk group and is allowed to take the exam,” says Hurter. If a person is at high risk of lung cancer, they can make an appointment for a computed tomography in Bern, Zurich or Bregenz (A). During the examination, you lie on a table and the table is gently pushed through a ring-shaped opening. Radiologists then analyze the images. According to Hurter, the examination costs no more than four weeks of smoking. The health insurance company does not cover the costs.

If nothing unusual is seen in the images, it means you don’t have lung cancer, Hurter says. “Or the clues are so small that nothing can be recognized yet.” If you see something unusual in the pictures, there’s no need to worry, according to Hurter. “There are many harmless abnormalities in the lungs, such as scarring from previous inflammation.” However, the radiologist may recommend repeating the examination after three, six or twelve months to rule out the possibility that the change is malignant.

There is always a debate in medicine about how effective tests are in detecting cancer early. A panel of experts analyzed the advantages and disadvantages of lung screening in Switzerland from 2019 to 2022 and concluded that it is recommended for risk groups to undergo preventive examination.