Although lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer deaths in the U.S., new data has found patients are living longer because of technological advancements made to testing and treatment.

Data from The American Lung Association shows lung cancer survival rates have increased 26% over the past five years.

Dr. Michael Ebright, a surgeon with Stamford Health and NewYork-Presbyterian, says the tools used to fight lung cancer have also improved.

"We have biologic therapy and immunotherapy. We have less invasive surgery and because the treatments are more effective, patients have been doing much better, even if they're advanced stage," he says.

However, not all data shows signs of encouragement. The association's State of Lung Cancer Report says screening rates remain low. Only 16% of people who are deemed high risk are screened.

Dr. Ebright says low-dose CT scan can find cancer when it's tiny, before any symptoms develop. He says patients who are eligible for screenings are between 50 and 80 and a smoked one pack of cigarettes a day for 20 years or for a similar amount of time.

People who are also current smokers or have quit within the last 15 years should also be screened.

"We want an early stage cancer to be a blip in a person's life and not something that defines them. We want it to be over and done with. That's what we're going for," he says.