At what level of prevention is screening for lung cancer classified?

Screening for lung cancer is primarily classified as secondary prevention because it aims to detect cancer at an early stage before symptoms appear, which can lead to earlier treatment and potentially better outcomes. Secondary prevention focuses on interventions to identify and treat diseases in their early stages.

While the response indicates that screening is "not currently recommended," it’s important to note that guidelines surrounding screenings can change based on new evidence and recommendations from health organizations. Currently, organizations such as the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommend annual screening with low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) for high-risk populations, such as adults aged 50 to 80 with a history of heavy smoking.

Primary prevention involves actions taken to prevent disease before it occurs, such as promoting healthy behaviors and vaccinations; tertiary prevention focuses on managing disease and preventing further complications after diagnosis. Therefore, even though current recommendations might vary based on guidelines, the act of screening itself aligns more closely with secondary prevention principles.