It's important that we complete the definitive studies and get scientific information. |
The rate of early cancer detection was better than what we see in the general community. But it remains to be seen if that translates into a mortality benefit. It is too early to make any recommendations regarding chest X-rays as a lung cancer screening tool in the general population. |
The take-home message is to never start smoking, and if you do smoke, to quit. |
There is no accepted early screening technique for lung cancer. The PLCO trial will show if chest X-rays, by catching lung cancer when it is still operable, can reduce the death rate from lung cancer. |
There were a lot of false positives on the initial x-rays. If you get a positive result from a chest x-ray, the message is, don't panic. |