Skip to main content

Bridging the Gap: Improving Lung Cancer Screening in Utah

Read Time: 3 minutes

Provider showing a patient an x-ray of their lungs

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States, yet it's also one of the most treatable when caught early. Nationally recommended screening guidelines are clear: If you're aged 50 or older, have a history of heavy smoking (around a pack a day for 20 years), and currently smoke or quit within the past 15 years, a low-dose CT scan could save your life.

So why are lung cancer screening rates still so low—especially in Utah?

Why Aren’t More People Getting Screened?

A national report from the American Lung Association, based on 2024 data, shows that only 12% of eligible Utahns are getting screened for lung cancer, putting Utah 45th in the nation for screening rates.

That may come as a surprise. After all, Utah boasts some of the lowest smoking rates in the country. But low overall smoking rates don’t tell the full story. According to public health experts, several factors may be keeping eligible Utahns from getting screened—even those who are at high risk.

A history of stigma

“We know from patient conversations that shame can be a real barrier,” says Gabriela Silva, CHES, a community health educator at Huntsman Cancer Institute. “Many people who’ve smoked—especially in a culture that strongly discourages it—are hesitant to discuss their history with a provider.”

“We never want shame to stand in the way of saving a life,” says Chakravarthy Reddy, MD,  investigator and assistant professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Utah.  “Screening is not about blame. It’s about giving people the best chance at early detection—and early treatment that works.”

Gaps in health data

Sometimes a provider simply doesn’t know that their patient is eligible. Smoking history might not be collected, or it might be recorded in a part of the medical record that isn’t reviewed during routine care.

Low awareness

Lung cancer screening is still relatively new, and many patients—and even some providers—don’t know it’s available or who qualifies.

And there’s another critical point. While smoking remains the leading cause of lung cancer, it’s not the only one. An estimated 1 in 3 Utah homes has dangerous levels of radon, a radioactive gas that seeps into homes through the ground. You can’t see or smell it—but long-term exposure can significantly increase lung cancer risk.

For people exposed to radon or other risk factors who don’t meet the standard screening criteria, lung cancer could go undetected until symptoms appear—and by then, it’s often harder to treat.

Steps Toward Better Screening—and Better Outcomes

That's why improving how and when patients are identified for screening is so important.

At Huntsman Cancer Institute, physicians and data scientists recently implemented a digital tool that automatically flags patients who meet screening guidelines in their electronic health records. That tool increased the number of people receiving recommended lung cancer screenings—from 7% to 24%—in just one year.

“Catching lung cancer early can mean the difference between a cure and a crisis,” adds Reddy. “The screening itself takes minutes. But those minutes could add years to someone’s life.”

It’s a promising step forward. But more work remains.

To protect more people from lung cancer, here are some suggested steps:

  • Encourage open conversations about smoking history, without stigma or shame.
  • Improve how health records track risk factors like tobacco use.
  • Raise awareness that screening is safe, quick, and potentially lifesaving.
  • Expand efforts to identify people at risk due to radon exposure or other environmental factors.

If you or someone you know might be eligible for lung cancer screening, talk with your health care provider—or speak with someone at Huntsman Cancer Institute by calling 801-581-7840.

Federal funding and donor support enable breakthroughs.