According to the American Cancer Society, lung cancer is the third most common type of cancer in the United States of America. About 2,00,000 cases are reported every year. In addition to this, the survival rate depends on the stages of the cancer. The patient has the survival rate of 70% to 80% if cancer is diagnosed earlier. In that regard, lung scans play an integral role in detecting the presence of cancer during the early stages. The availability of labs in the neighborhood allows people to take care of their lung health. In this post, we will let you know about lung scans and their procedures so that you may take care of your health. 

Understand the Basics of Lung Cancer 

Before we jump onto a lung scan, it is important to know about lung cancer. Lung cancer is the abnormal growth of cells in the lungs that form tumors, and often, cancer spreads to other parts of the body. Lung cancer is of two types depending upon the type of cells observed under the microscope. The two types of cancer include the following:

• Small-cell lung cancer is a type of cancer that is not very common, and it spreads quickly in the body. It occurs in people who have a long history of cigarette smoking. In addition, it is difficult to treat as it rapidly affects all other parts of the body.

• The other type is non-small cell lung cancer. This type includes different sub-categories, including squamous cell carcinoma and large cell carcinoma. This cancer does not spread quickly to other parts of the body. This type of cancer is treatable. 

In order to avoid the risk of cancer, it is important to take preventive measures in the form of treatment and scans.

What is a Lung Scan? 

A lung scan is a type of nuclear imaging test that helps diagnose abnormalities within the lungs. It also helps in assessing the effectiveness of the treatment. This test relies on the radioactive matter for the scan. The radioactive matter is also known as the tracer that sends the gamma rays. The scanner catches these gamma rays to create detailed images of the lungs. 

There are two types of scans: ventilation and perfusion scans. A ventilation scan looks into the movement of air within the lungs. The scan casts a glance into how air moves through bronchi and bronchioles within your lungs. The scan also looks at the flow of blood within the lungs. The lung scan procedure is simple and non-invasive. 

The other type of lung scan perfusion involves the absorption of radioactive tracer by the parts of the lungs that are getting blood. However, the tracer does not get absorbed by the parts of the lungs that do not receive the blood. In this way, it helps find abnormalities within the lungs. Lung scans are one of the most common ways of diagnosing blood clots and tumors within the lungs.  

Why do I need to go for a Lung Scan? 

You need to go for a lung screen, as recommended by your doctor if you are noticing symptoms of blood clots. The symptoms of blood clots within the lungs include the following:

• Trouble breathing without doing any strenuous work 

• Fast heart rate 

• Extreme pain in the chest

If your doctor doubts the presence of clots, he may recommend both ventilation and perfusion scans. If the ventilation scan comes normal and perfusion shows the presence of clots, then this is a mismatch, and it means you have clots in your lungs. Some doctors also go for lung scans before making final decisions for lung surgery.

How Do I Find Lung Cancer Screening Near Me? 

This is one of the most important questions where to find a reliable imaging center? One of the simplest methods is simply to go for lung cancer screening near me. You will get many options, but you need to ensure a few things:

• The lab must be accredited with AABB. Usually, hospitals and doctors accept the reports of the labs that have accreditation. Further, ensure they have different certificates of authenticity along with licenses. 

• It is also important that the radiologist guides you about the procedure before the procedure. 

ViaScan of Las Colinas is one of the best options for offering quality services that meet the expectations of doctors and patients. With them, you do not have to worry about the procedure, as the well-experienced staff explains everything in detail for the ease of patients. 

Conclusion 

A lung scan is one of the preventive measures that helps in the early diagnosis of abnormalities related to the lungs. Amid the rise of lung cancer, it is important to take care of your lung health to save yourself through lung screening.