What Do My Lung Scan Results Mean?

A low-dose lung CT scan is one of the best ways to catch lung cancer early — even before you notice symptoms. If you recently had a lung scan, you might wonder what the results mean and what happens next.

Cory Hogue, MD, a radiation oncologist at Franciscan Health Cancer Center Munster, explains what you can expect and how Franciscan Health is here to help you every step of the way.

Why Did My Doctor Recommend A Lung Scan?

Lung cancer usually doesn’t cause symptoms in the early stages. That’s because a tumor needs to grow large enough to press on nearby tissues or block your airway before you start to notice changes. These can include coughing, pain or trouble breathing.

“Most lung cancers don’t cause any symptoms until the tumor gets big enough to affect the lungs or surrounding areas,” Dr. Hogue explained. “That’s why screening matters — it can find lung cancer when it’s small and easier to treat.”

Franciscan Health offers a $49 low-dose lung scan in Indiana for patients who want a quick, affordable way to check their lung health. Your doctor can order the scan, or you can self-refer if you know you are at risk.

What Could My Lung Scan Show?

A lung scan gives your doctor a detailed look inside your lungs. In many cases, the scan shows nothing to worry about. But it can find small changes that we need to monitor. Sometimes, a follow-up is necessary. Your scan might show:

• No findings: Your lungs look normal. While this is good news, it’s important to know that lung scans should be completed yearly for those who qualify. Plan to make a lung scan part of your annual health routine.
• Benign findings: Small, harmless spots, like mucus plugs or small, noncancerous nodules, are common, especially as you age. These usually don’t need treatment but may require follow-up scans.
• Suspicious findings: In a small number of cases, the scan finds something that could be cancer.

“Most scan findings are harmless, but sometimes we can see something on the scan that needs more testing to confirm,” Dr. Hogue said.

What Happens If My Lung Scan Shows Something?

If your lung scan shows anything unusual, don’t panic.

A radiologist — a doctor trained to read scans — will look closely at the images and decide how risky the spot might be. They place it into a risk category to help your doctor plan the best next steps.

Here’s what could happen:

• Low-risk nodules: These are small spots that look harmless. Your doctor will likely recommend a repeat scan in a few months to make sure nothing has changed. Most low-risk nodules stay the same or even go away over time.
• Higher-risk nodules: If the spot looks more concerning, your doctor may suggest a biopsy.

How Do Doctors Do A Biopsy?

If your scan shows a spot that needs closer evaluation, your doctor may recommend a biopsy. A biopsy removes a small piece of tissue from your lung. Doctors can use a microscope to find out exactly what the spot is. This is the best way to know if it’s cancer or something else.

At Franciscan Health, there are two ways to do a biopsy:

• Needle biopsy: A thin needle goes through the chest wall to collect a tissue sample.
• Robotic bronchoscopy: Using advanced robotic tools, doctors can reach small areas inside the lungs without surgery.

Franciscan Health’s robotic systems make it possible to reach even tiny nodules safely and precisely. This helps us get answers faster and causes you less discomfort.

What If I Have Lung Cancer?

If we find cancer, “Franciscan Health offers comprehensive lung cancer treatment options, from robotic surgery to precision radiation therapy,” said Dr. Hogue. “We have the whole complement of treatments for every new diagnosis.”

Treatments often include:

• Robotic surgery: We remove the cancer through small incisions with faster recovery.
• Medication therapy:Treatments like chemotherapy, immunotherapy and targeted therapies work throughout the body.
• Radiation therapy: High-dose, precise radiation targets the tumor while protecting healthy tissue.
• Palliative care: We use this to help relieve symptoms, like pain or shortness of breath, especially in the advanced stages.
• Pulmonary rehabilitation: This is part of the supportive care we offer people with lung cancer. It helps address breathing difficulties, reduced lung function, and other conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

A multidisciplinary tumor board at Franciscan Health reviews each patient case.

“One doctor doesn’t make decisions alone,” said Dr. Hogue. “It’s a team of five, six, seven, eight specialists who work together to recommend the best treatment plan.”

This team includes experts in surgery, oncology, radiology and pathology — all focused on providing you with the most effective, evidence-based care.

Why Early Detection Matters

For its $49 self-pay lung scan, Franciscan Health follows the recommendations of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, which suggests an annual lung scan to screen for lung cancer in adults age 50 and older who have a 20-pack year smoking history and have no symptoms of lung cancer. For individuals who wish to use their insurance, or those with symptoms of lung cancer, criteria may vary and can be discussed with your physician.

“Early diagnosis is the key to lung cancer treatment,” Dr. Hogue said. “When we catch lung cancer at an earlier stage, the outcome can be much better.”

Early detection saves lives. Franciscan Health makes that early detection easier with affordable lung scans, advanced technology and full support for whatever comes next.

Whether you need a simple follow-up scan or cancer treatment, we are ready to help.

If you have a history of smoking and are age 50 or older, talk to your doctor or schedule a $49 lung scan today. Learn more about early signs of lung cancer and treatment options. For more information or to schedule a second opinion, call (833) 238-0688.