What is Lung Cancer Screening?
INFORMATION
Lung cancer screening is about saving lives from lung cancer. Despite being only the 5th most common cancer in Australia, lung cancer remains the deadliest. Screening aims to prevents death by findings cancers earlier so that they can be cured.
The National Lung Cancer Screening program is a federal government program which will commence in July 2025. Eligible people will be those aged between 50 and 70 who have smoked a pack of cigarettes per day for 30 years or more, and former smokers who quit within the last 10 years. The program offers a Medicare-supported low radiation CT of the chest looking for findings in the lungs suggestive of cancer.
CT Findings
Most people can expect to have a normal CT chest, but up to one in three people will have some sort of abnormality detected.
Most of these abnormalities will not be cancerous, and many will not require any further investigation The CT scans used for screening the lungs also examine the other structures in the chest, so abnormalities can be found in lots of different places. In the lungs, screening scans may find signs of old infections, cysts, or emphysema, as well as potential cancers. Abnormalities in the centre of the chest (mediastinum) may also be found. These can include problems in the thymus, pericardium, lymph nodes, or other abnormalities. The heart and the major arteries are also part of the scan, and while the screening CT is not a good test for heart disease, major problems such as enlargement of the aorta can sometimes be identified.
If you’re not eligible
The current criteria for lung cancer screening include people at increased risk of lung cancer, but there are other people with risk factors for lung cancer who will not be eligible for screening.
A family history of lung cancer, occupational dust exposure, a significant passive smoking history, as well as some other rarer factors can contribute to an elevated risk of lung cancer. For some of these people, scans or other types of lung health checks may still be appropriate. If you or your patient is concerned about their personal risk of lung cancer, but does not meet the criteria for screening, one of our specialists would be happy to offer tailored advice.
