Get Your Primary Care Practice Ready for Lung Cancer Screening

Lung cancer is Australia’s leading cause of cancer-related death (1), with over 15,000 new cases and nearly 9,000 deaths in 2024 (2). Early detection through screening can save lives, and from July 2025, the Australian Government will roll out its first National Lung Cancer Screening Program (NLCSP).

This targeted, primary care-led program will use low-dose CT (LDCT) scans to identify lung cancers at early, more treatable stages in high-risk populations. Large international randomised trials have shown at least a 20% reduction in deaths from lung cancer when participants are screened using low-dose CT scans, and that up to 70% of lung cancers are detected at early stages (3,4).

Lung cancer screening has been shown to have favourable cost-effectiveness estimates in Australia (5,6). Smoking cessation support is a critical part of lung cancer screening—participants are more likely to quit smoking, which amplifies the program’s impact by further reducing lung cancer mortality (7).

Who is eligible?

Patients must:

• Be aged 50 to 70 years
• Currently smoke or have quit within the past 10 years
• Have a ≥30 pack-year history of tobacco smoking
• Have no symptoms suggestive of lung cancer (e.g., persistent cough, unexplained shortness of breath)

Screening is free for eligible patients with Medicare.

What Healthcare Practitioners need to do by July 2025

1. Update and Review Smoking Histories
   Start identifying patients who may be eligible:

• • Use non-judgmental, open-ended questions to encourage disclosure
  • Work with the patient to estimate average smoking per day and number of years
  • Clinicians are responsible for calculating pack-years

2. Integrate with the National Cancer Screening Register (NCSR)
   Unlike bowel and cervical screening, GPs will enrol patients directly in the NLCSP via the NCSR:

• • Ensure your clinical software (e.g., Best Practice, Medical Director, Communicare) is integrated and linked with your HPI-O
  • Through the NCSR, you can also view and update lung, bowel, and cervical screening records
  • Support is available from the NCSR Contact Centre: 1800 627 701

3. Set Up EMR-Based Prompts
   Create alerts in your patient records system to identify patients who become eligible over time

4. Read and Attend Free Online Training

• • The National Lung Cancer Screening Program: What GPs need to know Webinar 3 Jun, 7:30 PM – 8:30 PM (AEST)
  • NACCHO Program entry and eligibility – National Lung Cancer Screening Program webinar 16 June, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM (AEST)
  • CPD-accredited self-paced education modules
  • Training materials for patient discussions are available here
  • See snapshot of additional resources for rollout below

Communication matters: Reduce stigma and build trust

Lung cancer is often associated with stigma, shame, and fatalism, particularly for those with a smoking history. Many patients may assume that a diagnosis is inevitable or that screening won’t help them, which can deter participation.

As healthcare professionals, your approach can shift these beliefs. Here’s how:

• Avoid blaming language and respect patient autonomy
• Be mindful of unconscious biases—your attitudes can shape how patients view their own risk and survivorship
• Use motivational interviewing techniques and shared decision-making strategies
• Counter fatalistic thinking by with empowering messaging such as “screening can detect lung cancer early—before symptoms appear—when treatment is most effective” or “Participating in screening can help you stay well and protect your health, allowing you to be there for your family, friends, and community.” Or “For people at higher risk of lung cancer, a negative result can bring significant emotional relief.”
• Acknowledge that each patient’s experience with tobacco is unique
• Be patient and keep an open door: someone not ready now may be open to screening later