Men at Higher Risk of Lung Cancer as Compared to Women, Screening After age of 50 years is crucial

The number of lung cancer patients in the country is rapidly increasing. Most of the Lung cancer cases are diagnosed at later stage when the cancer has grown and is difficult to treat. Considering this, Apollomedics Super Specialty Hospital, starts low-dose CT scan facilities on World Lung Cancer Awareness Day. This is a screening test for lung cancer, available at a very low cost at Apollo Medics Super Specialty Hospital.

Dr. Abhishek Verma, a leading pulmonologist at Apollo Medics, emphasizes the importance of screening, stating, “We recommend that every adult over the age of 50, with a history of smoking tobacco, to undergo a low-dose CT scan. Early detection can significantly improve treatment outcomes. Most lung cancer symptoms are not identified until the disease has progressed.”

Research indicates that men are at a higher risk for lung cancer than women, largely due to higher rates of smoking. Active smokers, as well as individuals who have quit smoking, remain susceptible to the disease. Moreover, workers exposed to pollutants in industrial settings, such as coal mines and asbestos factories, are also at an elevated risk.

Dr. Verma further notes that while fewer women smoke, they face unique risks, particularly from cooking methods that utilize wood or dung stoves, which release harmful carcinogens into the air.

The low-dose CT scan is a cutting-edge tool for lung cancer screening that offers significant benefits. According to Dr. Verma, “Unlike traditional CT scans, which expose patients to a higher amount of radiation, the low-dose CT scan is an X-ray based CT scan which has only 20% of the radiation exposure compared to a regular CT scan. This advanced technology allows for safer, more frequent screenings—recommended annually—to identify lung cancer at an earlier, more treatable stage.”

Dr. Mayank Somani, CEO and Managing Director of Apollo Medics Super Specialty Hospital, states, “Our commitment is to provide the highest standard of care and leverage the latest advancements in medical technology. The introduction of low-dose CT scan for lung cancer screening marks a significant development in our ongoing efforts to enhance patient care in the region.”