39 ILLUSTRATION BY GERALDINE SY Screening is so effective, everyone should get the scan. FICTION. "For a screening test to be effective, we want to find the population of patients who do potentially have the cancer," McKee says. For the same reason doctors don't recommend breast cancer screenings for most 30-year-olds- data shows the risks outweigh the benefits at this age-she says it is important not to spend resources or cause undue stress by screening people who are unlikely to have lung cancer. There's a small risk of false positive results, she says, and some radiation exposure (about the same as a mammogram). There are other ways besides screening to reduce your risk of dying from lung cancer. FACT. If you smoke, quitting is your most important step. Talk to your doctor about smoking cessation methods that can work for you. Environmental factors such as exposure to radon also increase the risk of lung cancer; you can buy a simple radon test for your home at most home improvement stores. Finally, know that the science is always evolving. McKee says, "We're continuing to search for new ways to detect lung cancer early." * VIM & VIGOR SPRING 2020