Will a blood test compel more people to be screened for lung cancer? Elizabeth Tracey reports

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When someone has a years-long, multiple pack history of smoking, they are recommended to undergo screening for lung cancer utilizing a technology known as low dose computed tomography or low dose CT. Yet only about 18% of those eligible for screening have it, the American Cancer Society reports. Now a new blood test may help. William Nelson, director of the Kimmel Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, explains.

Nelson: This protein assay in the bloodstream captured 85% of lung cancer cases. Now remember what this test would do is say you are the person who should go get low dose CT scan imaging, which it was already underutilized even for the people who should use it. Maybe it's a better criterion to motivate people to go get lower dose CT imaging.  :24

Nelson says the blood test is likely to continue to get better and may be widely available soon. If it becomes part of routine care perhaps more people will get diagnosed with early stage lung cancer, when chances are best for successful treatment. At Johns Hopkins, I’m Elizabeth Tracey.