National lung cancer screening begins July 2025
The National Lung Cancer Screening Program will begin in July 2025, marking a major shift in how Australia approaches early detection.
21 May 2025
To help raise awareness and support implementation, Midland Lung Cancer Clinic are hosting an education evening for clinicians on Wednesday 21 May at Guildford Grammar School.
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in Australia, largely because most cases are diagnosed too late.
Over 40 per cent of patients are currently diagnosed at stage IV, when treatment is typically palliative. In contrast, only around 16 per cent are detected at stage I, where curative options like surgery are possible.
The new program will offer free low-dose CT scans to eligible high-risk individuals, with the goal of diagnosing lung cancer earlier—when treatment is more effective and outcomes are significantly better.
Eligibility includes people aged 50 to 70 with a heavy smoking history of at least 30 pack-years, who are either current smokers or have quit within the past 10 years.
Patients who meet the criteria will be referred by their GP for low-dose CT at an accredited screening site. Modelling suggests this could increase stage I diagnoses from 16 percent to 60 per cent, and reduce stage IV diagnoses from 53 per cent to just 11 per cent.
This national program joins Australia’s established bowel, breast and cervical cancer screening efforts. Clinicians may wish to familiarise themselves with the program as lung cancer screening becomes a more routine part of preventive care.
Event details
For those wanting to learn more about lung cancer—from screening to treatment—and the services available both publicly and privately at Midland, the Midland Lung Cancer Clinic is hosting an educational evening.
The event is open to GPs, nurses and oncology pharmacists and will cover screening eligibility, referral pathways, imaging and treatment options.
Date and time
Wednesday 21 May 2025
6.00pm to 9.15pm
Location
Guildford Grammar School
11 Terrace Road Guildford, WA 6055
Main dining hall opposite the chapel
Registration
Please RSVP by Friday 16 May by registering your attendance on the event page: lungcancer.eventbrite.com.au