80% of Lung Cancer Screenings Missed Each Year, but Why?

November 2025

The American Cancer Society (ACS) estimates that about 1 in 5 cancer deaths are due to lung cancer, more than colon, breast, and prostate cancers combined.

Early detection improves survival rates and John Howington, MD, a thoracic surgeon at Virginia Mason Franciscan Health (VMFH), says there is more we can do to save lives.

“About 60% of patients who present with symptoms from lung cancer are in an advanced stage,” he continued. “Screening has such a dramatic improvement in survival. If we can change the paradigm and perception of lung cancer and increase screening, we could double the lung cancer survival rate.”

According to Howington, only about 20% of people who are eligible for lung cancer screening are getting screened today.

“We have a significant opportunity to close this gap and save lives by encouraging more people to be screened.”

The other good news is that lung cancer is highly curable. Thanks to advancements in screening, targeted therapies, immunotherapies, and surgical techniques, the 5-year survival rate for lung cancer has been slowly but steadily increasing.

Howington said when he started his career, that wasn’t the case.

“Decades ago, the survival rate was only about 15 percent,” he said.

Although lung cancer incidence rates have been declining for several decades, particularly among men, there has been a slower decline in women and increased rates in individuals who have never smoked.

He recommends people talk to their primary care providers about lung cancer screenings, and encourages people to speak up about risk factors.

Understanding the risk factors is crucial for prevention and identifying individuals who may benefit from screening.

• Smoking or exposure to second hand smoke 
• Radon exposure or other 
• Occupational exposures (e.g., asbestos, arsenic, chromium, nickel, diesel exhaust, etc.)
• Increased air pollution where you live or where you grew up 
• A family history
• Previous radiation therapy
• And other factors, such as age