Screening of high-risk individuals using low-dose computed tomography is clinically effective in reducing lung cancer mortality and significantly improving the detection and treatment of early stage disease of people affected by lung cancer, as shown in landmark trials and replicated in international pilot studies and real-world programs.
Inequitable outcomes means that lung cancer disproportionately impacts communities including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, regional, lower socio-economically disadvantaged, and culturally and linguistically diverse communities with higher smoking rates.
In Australia, the National Lung Cancer Screening Program (NLCSP) will commence from July 2025. The project aims to develop a navigator model of care for lung cancer screening specific to culturally and linguistically diverse communities that is tested under real-world conditions and adaptable for other priority populations.
