What is the National Lung Cancer Screening Program?
The National Lung Cancer Screening Program (NLCSP) is a new program that was rolled out in Australia in July 2025. It aims to:
- Reduce lung cancer deaths and complications.
- Support smoking cessation throughout the screening process.
The effective integration of smoking cessation is essential to NLCSP. The maximum reduction in mortality is achieved with a combination of smoking abstinence and low dose CT (LDCT) screening.
Who is the Lung Cancer Screening Program for?
The program offers screening to high-risk individuals:
- Aged 50-70 years old
- Current or former smokers meeting specific criteria
How do I participate in lung cancer screening?
Visit your GP or Aboriginal Liaison Officer to discuss your eligibility, and obtain a referral for LDCT. They will identify a suitable provider for you to have your scan. Mobile LDCT scan options are provided by Heart of Australia in areas with limited radiology services. See routes for the Heart of Australia lung cancer screening trucks. Following your scan, your GP will discuss your results with you.
Lung Cancer Screening Outcomes and Follow-Up
Participants will be treated according to the scan outcome as follows:
- No significant findings: Recommended to return for screening every two years.
- Low malignancy risk: Recommended to return in 12 months.
- Participants with moderate malignancy risk: Recommended to return in three months.
- High-risk findings or suspicion of lung cancer including high-risk nodules: Rapid referral to a tertiary specialist or a tertiary rapid access clinic linked to a multidisciplinary team. Clinical assessment and any necessary treatment will be determined. See more information on lung cancer and treatments.
Key Statistics: Lung Cancer
Figure 1. Estimated cancer incidence in Australia, 2023 and Australia’s most common causes of cancer-related death in 2023.
Data sourced from AIHW Cancer Data in Australia 2023 web report and supplementary data tables
- High Mortality Rate: In Australia, lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer death, with over 8,000 deaths annually.
- Rising Cases: The number of new lung cancer cases diagnosed is on the rise in Australia, with over 14,272 diagnosed in 2023.
- Disparity Among Indigenous Australians: Indigenous Australians are disproportionately affected by lung cancer, being twice as likely to be diagnosed and die from the disease compared to non-Indigenous Australians.
- Importance of Early Detection: Survival rates for lung cancer are significantly higher when detected early. The five-year relative survival rate for stage I lung cancer is 67.7%, compared to just 3.8% for stage IV. This is due to curative treatment options that can be offered before the cancer metastasises (spreads throughout the body)
- Advances in treatments and clinical trials: Even for diagnoses of metastatic lung cancer, treatments have improved in recent years, and continue to advance. Clinical trials may offer opportunities to access newer treatments.
Importance of Early Detection through Lung Cancer Screening
Early detection is crucial for improving lung cancer survival rates. Currently, most diagnoses occur at advanced stages when treatment options are limited. The five-year survival rate for stage I lung cancer is a staggering 67.7%, compared to just 3.8% for stage IV. Early detection through low-dose CT (LDCT) scans can significantly reduce lung cancer deaths.
Two large clinical trials (NELSON and ILST) have provided evidence that early detection via low-dose CT (LDCT) imaging in high-risk populations reduces the number of deaths from lung cancer, highlighting the need for developing such a program to improve lung cancer outcomes in Australia.
Indigenous Australians and Lung Cancer
Indigenous Australians are disproportionately affected by lung cancer. AIHW reports that indigenous Australians are twice as likely to be diagnosed and die from the disease compared to non-Indigenous Australians. that lung cancer is the highest cause of cancer mortality in this population, nearly five times higher than colorectal cancer, the second leading cause.
Development of the National Lung Cancer Screening Program
Following the 2020 Lung Cancer Screening Enquiry (LCSE) report by Cancer Australia, a collaborative effort between Cancer Australia and the Department of Health and Aged Care began in July 2021 to design and assess the feasibility of a national LCSP.
This process involved extensive stakeholder engagement, particularly with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representatives, to ensure the program addressed the unique needs of Indigenous Australians.
The representatives included Aboriginal health workers and practitioners, indigenous smoking coordinators, Aboriginal liaison officers and cancer care coordinators, researchers, policymakers, and consumers.
Cancer Australia also received independent advice from MSAC. This included the creation of a new Medicare Benefits Schedule item number for low dose CT scans, to support the early detection of lung cancer in asymptomatic high-risk individuals.
GPs can visit Get Your Primary Care Practice Ready for Lung Cancer Screening for resources to overcome challenges that have been identified for the implementation of the NLCSP.
Importantly, lung cancer screening should be regarded as proactive health management. This resource has been developed to discuss participation in lung cancer screening.
Additional Resources
For more information, visit the Cancer Australia website: Cancer Australia Lung Cancer Screening.
Source for figures 1 and 2 can be found here
