Dr. Raz on the Effects of COVID-19 on Lung Cancer Screening

Dan J. Raz, MAS, MD, co-director, Lung Cancer and Thoracic Oncology Program, associate professor, Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, City of Hope, discusses the effects of COVID-19 on lung cancer screening.

A decline in lung cancer screening has been observed since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, says Raz. However, as more elderly patients are vaccinated and feel comfortable coming into the clinic, the number of patients screened for lung cancer will likely rebound, Raz explains.

Although the decline in screening is not ideal, the COVID-19 pandemic opened the door for mandatory shared–decision making to be done via telemedicine vs in-person, says Raz. Now, patients can meet with medical oncologists, nurse practitioners, or physician’s assistants to discuss the risks and benefits of lung cancer screening through a video chat or phone call, Raz explains. This alleviates some of the accessibility burden of screening for patients, concludes Raz.