Lung Cancer Screening Review for General Practitioners

Worldwide lung cancer has the highest rate of mortality and is the leading cause of cancer deaths. The incidence of lung cancer is approximately equal to its mortality. There are approximately 1.8 million new cases of lung cancer every year globally and over 1.6 million deaths secondary to this. The survival rates for lung cancer are abysmal, in the United States the overall 5-year survival is as low as 18% which is in sharp contrast to the high rates of survival for breast, colon, and prostate cancer at 90, 65 and almost 100% respectively. These low rates of survival link directly with most lung cancers only getting diagnosed when the disease is in advanced stages. Before screening interventions, lung cancers in early stages were found mostly as a coincidental finding. Due to the late presentation of these patients, survival beyond a few years was not possible. Due to these problems, there was a global push for screening modalities for lung cancer to ensure the identification of malignancy occurred earlier in the disease process. The average 5-year survival in the United States of patients with lung cancer is 17.7%; however, this number drastically changes if we account for the stage of the disease at the time of diagnosis. In patients with localized disease, the survival rates are as high as 55.2%. However, only 16% of patients get diagnosed at this early stage of their disease. This difference in survival rates further highlights the absolute need for a reliable screening tool for patients at risk for lung cancer. This activity reviews the considerations for lung cancer screening.

Target Audience

This activity has been designed to meet the educational needs of physicians. 

Learning Objectives

  • Describe the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide. 

  • Review the survival rates of lung cancer. 

  • Outline the challenges and methods of early diagnosis of lung cancer. 

  • Summarize the considerations for lung cancer screening and outline the role of the interprofessional team in considering the limited screen tools available for patients at higher risk. 

Course summary
Available credit: 
  • 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
    HCA Healthcare Continental Division is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

    HCA Healthcare Continental Division designates this for a maximum of 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
  • 1.00 Attendance
Course opens: 
01/09/2023
Course expires: 
12/31/2024
Rating: 
5

Faculty:

Ellen Volker, MD

J. Caleb Richards, MD  

Disclosure: There are no relevant financial relationships to report for those individuals in a position to control the content of this CME Activity 

Accreditation: The HCA Healthcare Continental Division is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians. 

Credit Designation: HCA Healthcare Continental Division designates this activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. The American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board, The American Nurses Credentialing Center, and The American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) accept AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ issued by organizations accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) toward recertification requirements. *We suggest that learners check with their state licensing board to ensure they accept reciprocity with AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ for re-licensure. 

Commercial Support: This Activity was developed without support from any ineligible company. *The ACCME defines ineligible companies as those whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients. Note: The ACCME does not consider providers of clinical service directly to patients to be commercial interests – unless the provider of clinical services is owned, or controlled by, and ACCME defined ineligible company. 

Disclosure: HCA Healthcare Continental Division is committed to providing CME that is balanced, objective, and evidenced-based. In accordance with the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education Standards for Integrity and Independence all parties involved in content development are required to disclose all conflicts o f interest with ACCME defined ineligible companies. The CME planning committee who are in a position to control the content of this CME Activity, have no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies to disclose. The HCA Healthcare Continental Division has identified, reviewed, and mitigated all conflicts of interest that speakers, authors, course directors, planners, peer reviewers, or relevant staff disclose prior to the delivery of any educational activity.

Available Credit

  • 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
    HCA Healthcare Continental Division is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

    HCA Healthcare Continental Division designates this for a maximum of 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
  • 1.00 Attendance
Please login or register to take this course.

  1. Register for the activity and create a profile including login/password.      

  1. Review the required accreditation information:  Target audience, learning objectives, and disclosure information. 

  1. Complete the entire activity. 

  1. Complete the post-test assessments. 

  1. Successfully pass the post-test with a minimum score of 70%. 

  1. Complete the evaluation survey.  

  1. Obtain a certificate.