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The United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) lung cancer screening recommendation was released in December 2013, and calls for annual screening for lung cancer with low-dose CT in adults who are between 55 and 80 years old, and are current smokers or former smokers who stopped less than 15 years ago, and have smoked for at least 30 pack years.

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) provides coverage for low-dose CT lung screening based on this recommendation. Several other organizations also recommend lung cancer screening with similar eligibility criteria.

The social stigma that surrounds a lung cancer diagnosis can affect a patients decision to be screened. There is a sense of dread around lung cancer because of the historically low survival rate, and there is a sense of shame as the link to cigarette smoking has caused many of us, usually unconsciously, to blame lung cancer patients for having caused their own disease. Experts say that this lung cancer stigma actually leads many patients to avoid screening. The fear of a diagnosis and the accompanying shame causes patients to not want to know if they have the disease. Likewise, stigma can be a reason patients do not seek treatment for lung cancer. Stigma is something providers should keep in mind when discussing screening with patients.

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