Lung cancer screening

About 11,000 Australians are diagnosed with lung cancer every year. It accounts for close to 9% of all cancers diagnosed. More men than women develop lung cancer. The risk of being diagnosed before the age of 85 is 1 in 13 for men and 1 in 22 for women. The average age at diagnosis is 71. 

National Lung Cancer Screening Program

The Government is gearing up to launch a National Lung Cancer Screening Program (NLSCP) aimed at early detection. This program will help to prevent over 500 deaths from lung cancer each year.  
 

The screening services will be available from July 2025. 

Who is the Lung Cancer Screening Program for?  

You are eligible for the program if you:  

  • are aged between 50 and 70  

and   

  • have a history of at least 30 pack-years of cigarette smoking and are still smoking.  

or

  • have a history of at least 30 pack-years of cigarette smoking and quit in the past 10 years.   
      

Learn more about ‘pack-years’ here. If you’re unsure how to calculate your pack-years, a healthcare provider can assist you with this.  

How to participate  

Speak to your healthcare provider (like a GP or Aboriginal Health Worker) to check your eligibility. If you are eligible, they will give you a referral to a radiology (medical imaging) provider for a free low-dose tomography (LDCT) scan.  

The Lung Cancer Screening Test

The new NLCSP program will use a low dose computed tomography scans to look for lung cancer in high-risk people without any symptoms.   

Finding lung cancer early 

Lung cancer can be difficult to diagnose at an early stage. Whether you smoke or not, see your doctor if you have any of the following symptoms: 

  • a persistent cough (lasting longer than 3 weeks) 
  • a change in a cough 
  • coughing up 

Having any one of these symptoms does not necessarily mean that you have lung cancer. 

Risk factors  

Smoking causes almost 9 out 10 cases of lung cancers, although some people who develop lung cancer have never smoked. Exposure to other people’s smoke (passive smoking) also increases the risk of lung cancer. 

Other risk factors include: being over 60; having a family history of lung cancer or a personal history of lung disease, such as chronic bronchitis; and exposure to substances or particles such as asbestos, coal gas and radiation. 

Talk to your doctor if you are concerned about your lung cancer risk. 

Smoking and cancer 

Smoking increases the risk of developing 16 different types of cancer. 

Women who smoke are more likely to experience painful periods, problems conceiving, early menopause and osteoporosis. Smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of having low birth-weight babies and babies who are premature, stillborn or who die shortly after birth. 

Quitting can be difficult, so speak to your doctor, call the Quitline on 13 7848, or visit icanquit.com.au.