Lung Cancer Screening Specialist

Kamal Anjum, MD, FCCP Our Services Lung Cancer Screening

Kamal Anjum, MD, FCCP

Pulmonary Medicine & Critical Care located in Hollywood, FL

Lung cancer is the second most common type of cancer and the leading cause of cancer deaths in women and men. With lung cancer screening, the team at K. Anjum, MD, FCCP, can identify lung cancer long before you start to develop symptoms, giving you the ability to get early treatment. To meet with Dr. Kamal Anjum to learn if you should have lung cancer screening, call the office in Hollywood, Florida, or book an appointment online.

Lung Cancer Screening Q & A

What increases my risk of getting lung cancer?

Cigarette smoking causes 80-90% of all lung cancers, making it the single biggest risk factor. The smoke inhaled from cigarettes contains carcinogens that damage cells inside your lungs. With continuing exposure to the smoke, the affected cells start to grow abnormally and form lung cancer.

Smoking a pipe, cigars, or low-tar cigarettes increases your risk nearly as much as cigarette smoking. You’re also at a high risk if you’re a nonsmoker who’s exposed to secondhand smoke. Lung cancer also develops from inhaling other known carcinogens such as asbestos, radon, and chemical fumes.

What symptoms develop due to lung cancer?

Unfortunately, lung cancer seldom causes symptoms until it reaches an advanced stage. When symptoms appear, you may experience:

  • A new cough that doesn’t go away
  • Chest discomfort
  • A cough that produces blood
  • Shortness of breath
  • Hoarseness
  • Wheezing
  • Fatigue
  • Unexplained weight loss

Depending on the location of the tumor in your lung, you may develop symptoms in other parts of your body. For example, a tumor in the top of your lung may pinch nerves that affect your face and eyes.

When should I get a lung cancer screening?

The best way to decide if you should be screened for lung cancer is to meet with the team at K. Anjum, MD, FCCP. They thoroughly examine your lungs and evaluate your risk factors. Based on the results, they can recommend whether you should undergo screening.

Lung cancer screening is generally only recommended for high-risk patients, which includes those who meet the following criteria: 

  • Aged 55-80
  • Current smoker
  • Former smoker who quit in the last 15 years
  • History of smoking one pack daily for 30 years or two packs daily for 15 years 

The team also takes other risk factors into consideration, such as your family history of lung and other types of cancer and your exposure to secondhand smoke and cancer-causing substances. 

How is a lung cancer screening performed?

The only type of screening currently recommended for lung cancer is a low-dose CT scan. During the scan, an X-ray machine uses a low dose of radiation to take images of your lungs. While this scan exposes you to significantly less radiation compared to a conventional chest CT scan, it produces exceptional images and allows the team to identify potential problems.

To learn more about lung cancer screening, call K. Anjum, MD, FCCP, or schedule an appointment online.

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