Lung cancer accounts for one fifth of cancer deaths! Free low-dose CT scan for family history and heavy smoking
Lung cancer accounts for one fifth of cancer deaths. Two types of people can make an appointment for LDCT examination
The latest top ten causes of cancer death in Taiwan were announced, with lung cancer continuing to rank first, with 10,040 lung cancer deaths in 2021, accounting for approximately one-fifth of all cancer deaths. In order to improve the early detection rate of cancer, the Ministry of Health and Welfare launched the “Lung Cancer Early Detection Program” on July 1 this year, providing low-dose drugs once every two years for high-risk groups with “family history of lung cancer” and “heavy smoking history” Computerized tomography (LDCT).
Lung cancer has high mortality and low survival rate, which is related to the stage of diagnosis. The 5-year survival rate of stage 1 lung cancer can be as high as 90%, while the 5-year survival rate of stage 3 lung cancer drops to 30%. When it progresses to stage 4, When people with lung cancer first seek medical treatment, the 5-year survival rate is only 10%.
According to data from the World Health Organization, lung cancer is the number one cause of cancer death in the world. Early detection of lung cancer has a great impact on survival rates. Low-dose computed tomography is currently the only screening tool with international evidence for early detection of lung cancer. The United States, South Korea has LDCT lung cancer screening programs for heavy smokers.
Don’t smoke but get lung cancer? Be careful if you are over 50 years old and have a family history of lung cancer
However, the proportion of non-smokers suffering from lung cancer is increasing, and only 5.9% of Taiwanese women with lung cancer are smokers. Taiwan Academia Sinica academician Yang Panchi led the “Study on Screening Taiwan’s Non-Smoking High-Risk Groups for Lung Cancer with Low-Dose Computed Tomography” (TALENT) conducted by 17 hospitals and found that people aged 50-74 years old with a family history of lung cancer (parents, children, brothers) sister suffers from lung cancer), the lung cancer detection rate is higher than that of other non-smoking high-risk groups for lung cancer. It shows that for non-smokers who develop lung cancer, family history of lung cancer is the most important risk factor.
Taiwan Ministry of Health and Welfare, Health Promotion Administration stated that after the “Lung Cancer Early Detection Program” is launched, it will provide two types of high-risk groups for lung cancer:
People with a family history of lung cancer: men aged 50 to 74 years old or women aged 45 to 74 years old. , and those whose parents, children or siblings have been diagnosed with lung cancer;
Heavy smoking history: Heavy smokers aged 50 to 74 who have a smoking history of more than 30 years and are willing to quit smoking or have quit smoking within 15 years, may contact Taiwan 90 Make appointments for low-dose computed tomography examinations at home hospitals.
Women with a family history of lung cancer can improve their 5-year survival with screening and early diagnosis at the age of 45
Heavy smokers are one of the high-risk groups for lung cancer, and they are mostly men. Since most of the lung cancer cases in women are non-smokers, in order to strengthen the lung cancer screening policy for female non-smokers, after discussions at many expert meetings, women with a family history of lung cancer have been specially classified. The screening age has been raised to 45 years old, allowing more women with lung cancer risk factors to receive lung cancer screening services.
Taiwan Health Promotion Administration stated that Taiwan is the first country in the world to provide lung cancer screening for people with a family history of lung cancer and heavy smokers. However, although low-dose computed tomography can help diagnose lung cancer early and reduce lung cancer mortality, it cannot prevent the occurrence of lung cancer. Smokers should still quit smoking to reduce their risk of lung cancer. The proportion of nodules detected by LDCT screening is high, but most of them are benign nodules. When the examination results show abnormality, you should cooperate with the doctor to continue to follow up and observe whether there are any changes in the nodules.
List of hospitals with lung cancer early detection program (90 hospitals in total)
Taipei City
Cathay Medical Foundation Cathay General Hospital
Taipei Municipal Wanfang Hospital - entrusted to Taipei Medical University
Koo Gong Liang Medical Foundation and Xinji Cancer Center Hospital
Central Clinic Medical Foundation Central General Hospital
Boren General Hospital
Taipei City Hospital Zhongxing Branch
Taipei City Hospital Yangming Branch
Taipei City Hospital Heping Renai Branch
Taipei City Hospital Zhongxiao Branch
China Medical University Hospital Taipei Branch
New Taipei City
Catholic Koshin Hospital
Cathay Medical Foundation Xizhi Cathay General Hospital
Ministry of Health and Welfare Shuang Ho Hospital (entrusted to build and operate Taipei Medical University)
Ministry of Health and Welfare Losheng Nursing Home
Hyungcheonggong Medical Foundation Benjo Hospital
Taoyuan City
Ministry of Health and Welfare Taoyuan Hospital
Zhongli Changrong Hospital
Yee Yan General Hospital
Tiancheng Medical Corporation Tiansheng Hospital
Lien Shin International Hospital
Hsinchu City
Cathay Medical Foundation Hsinchu Cathay General Hospital
Taiwan Presbyterian Church Mackay Medical Foundation Hsinchu Mackay Memorial Hospital
National Taiwan University School of Medicine Affiliated Hospital Hsinchu National Taiwan University Branch Hsinchu Hospital
Hsinchu County
- National Taiwan University School of Medicine Affiliated Hospital Hsinchu National Taiwan University Branch Biomedical Hospital
Miaoli County
Yikyou Medical Foundation Yikyou Memorial Hospital
Daqian General Hospital
Ministry of Health and Welfare Miaoli Hospital
Taichung City
Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen Medical University
Children’s General Medical Institution Children’s General Hospital
Kwangjeon General Hospital
Cheng Ching Hospital Chung Kang Branch
Ministry of Health and Welfare Taichung Hospital
Chang’an Hospital
Ministry of Health and Welfare Fengyuan Hospital
Xiande Hospital
National Medical Service, Taichung General Hospital
National Medical Service, Taichung General Hospital, Zhongqing Branch Affiliated Public Diagnostic and Treatment Service
Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation Taichung Tzu Chi Hospital
Taichung Veterans General Hospital
Changhua County
Changhua Christian Medical Foundation Changhua Christian Hospital
Shuchuan Medical Corporation Shuchuan Memorial Hospital
Changhua Christian Medical Foundation Lin Christian Hospital
Changchun Hospital
Shuden Medical Foundation Akihama Shuden Memorial Hospital
Changhua Christian Medical Foundation Lukang Christian Hospital
Changhua Christian Medical Foundation Erlin Christian Hospital
Yuanei Medical Association Yuanyei Hospital
Huilai Medical Corporation Hongin Hospital
Nantou County
Yumin Medical Corporation Yumin Hospital
Changhua Christian Medical Foundation Nantou Christian Hospital
Puli Christian Hospital
Ministry of Health and Welfare Nantou Hospital
Yunlin County
Ansheng Hospital
National Taiwan University School of Medicine, Yunlin Branch
Changhua Christian Medical Foundation Yunlin Christian Hospital
Chiayi City
Catholic St. Martin’s Hospital
Dyson Medical Foundation Chiayi Christian Hospital
Qingsheng Medical Corporation Qingsheng Hospital
Chiayi County
- Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation Dalin Tzu Chi Hospital
Tainan City
Chi Mei Hospital
Chi Mei Medical Foundation Liuying Chi Mei Hospital
Tainan Municipal Hospital (operated by Xiu Chuan Medical Corporation)
Taiwan Presbyterian Church Xinlou Medical Foundation Tainan Xinlou Hospital
Ministry of Health and Welfare Sinying Hospital
Chimei Medical Foundation Chimei Hospital
Taiwan Presbyterian Church Xinlou Medical Foundation Madou Xinlou Hospital
Yingxin Hospital
Ministry of Health and Welfare Chest Hospital
National Cheng Kung University Medical School Hospital
Guo General Hospital
Ministry of Health and Welfare Tainan Hospital
Kaohsiung city
Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital
Private Kaohsiung Medical University Chung Ho Memorial Hospital
Nguyen General Medical Institution Nguyen General Hospital
Kaohsiung Municipal Xiaogang Hospital (operated by the private Kaohsiung Medical University)
Kaohsiung Municipal Datong Hospital (operated by the private Chung Ho Memorial Hospital affiliated to Kaohsiung Medical University)
National Medical Service Kaohsiung General Hospital Affiliated Public Diagnostic and Treatment Service
Xinghe Hospital
Public Medical Service Office attached to the Gangshan Branch of the Kaohsiung General Hospital of the National Army
Kaohsiung Municipal Gangshan Hospital (operated by Xiu Chuan Medical Corporation)
Pingtung County
Antai Medical Corporation Antai Hospital
Bogeon Medical Corporation Bogeon Hospital
Keelung City
- Ministry of Health and Welfare Keelung Hospital
Yilan County
Medical Foundation Luodong Pok Oi Hospital
Catholic Spiritual Doctors Association Medical Foundation Nadong St. Mary’s Hospital
Hualien County
- Ministry of Health and Welfare Hualien Hospital
Taitung County
- Taitung Christian Hospital
Penghu County
Ministry of Health and Welfare Penghu Hospital
The Penghu Branch of the Tri-Service General Hospital has a public medical service office
Kinmen County
- Ministry of Health and Welfare Kinmen Hospital
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