Would a clear chest x-ray mean there is no lung cancer?

Chest Xray: No. It means there is no visible mass that could be lung cancer. Sometimes the xray is done too early in life when there is not a big mass yet to see.

Not necessarily: Not necessarily, if the cancer is in early stages as small lump, it might not show up on a plain chest x-ray.

Not necessarily: A clear chest xray is a good thing but, but it is not 100 percent accurate. Small tumors in the mediastinum and more central chest sometimes cannot be seen til they are larger. Ct is much more sensitive but is more expensive and gives more radiation.

Not necessarily: Chest xrays are not regarded as good lung cancer screening tools. Ct-scan, while imperfect, is currently the best demonstrated screening tool for lung cancer. A proper protocol chest ct will use about the same radiation as a mammogram. http://goo.gl/b69an.