The Australian national government recently initiated a national early screening program. Together, these lung cancer solutions will lower the shameful national lung cancer death toll that steals the lives of close to 9,000 Australians annually. Break this down and that means nearly one of these deaths every single hour, highlighting the critical need for early detection and intervention. The new Lung Cancer Screening Program will target Australians 50 to 70 years old with a significant smoking history. To be eligible, people need to be 50-80 years old with at least 30 pack years of smoking history.
Health Minister Mark Butler made the announcement about the new program. He emphasized that low-dose CT scans can identify nearly 70% of lung cancers at early stages. With lung cancer, especially, early detection makes all the difference. Research has shown that it can reduce lung cancer mortality by 20% or more. Beginning July 1, high-risk patients will start getting the scans at no cost. These scans often run in the hundreds of dollars.
This new lung cancer screening program will be focused on Australians aged 50-70 with a strong smoking history. Naomi Fitzakerley, consumer representative for the Lung Foundation, said it will allow them to access a CT scan every two years. This scan is designed to catch even the most nascent signs of lung cancer, so folks can receive treatment that is often profoundly effective.
Reducing lung cancer mortality is a major public health priority. This has made the problem especially acute for Indigenous Australians and some migrant communities, among which diagnosis rates are on the rise. This community engagement enables the program to co-design with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. We want to deliver screening in a culturally safe way and equitable to access.
Mark Butler emphasized the program’s inclusive approach, stating, “Australia stands as leaders globally. We will be one of the first countries in the world to have a National Lung Cancer Screening Program that will look across Australia, and particularly because it’s been co-designed with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, will support those people who have often been forgotten.”
Despite these developments, challenges remain. Insufficient trust in the health system prevents Indigenous Australians from accessing necessary care, says Anita Dessaix. This disparity extends to our migrants too, which keeps them away from critical health services that they need. She remarked on the stigma surrounding lung cancer and related conditions, stating, “There is such a stigma around smoking, and one of the things that you get told is that you’ve caused it.”
Mark Brooke of the Lung Foundation acknowledged these fears. He encouraged eligible people to break through stigma and take advantage of the no-cost screening services that are now available to them. Our message at the Lung Foundation is a pretty darn simple one. This procedure is entirely safe, and we urge anyone who is eligible to get involved. Don’t let this intimidating screen scare you off! It will save your life.
The late stage at which lung cancer is diagnosed is one of the main contributing factors to its high mortality rate. As a result, lung cancers are often diagnosed at later stages. This has rendered them incredibly difficult to cure compared to other kinds of cancer, for which we are seeing improving survival rates.
It kills more Australians than suicides and car accidents combined—about 9,000 Australians every year, or close to one Australian every hour of every day. As one anonymous reader said, “Here’s the big reason that our national mortality rate has remained so high and intractable.” It all starts with the late stage detection of lung cancers.
This landmark initiative puts Australia at the front of the queue of countries that have rolled out or are rolling out national lung cancer screening programs. For instance, Australia’s government is investing in early detection and improving access. Their focus is on achieving a no lung cancer death goal and ensuring those at risk have the best possible outcomes.
