The National Lung Cancer Screening Program aims to achieve better health outcomes for Australians by detecting lung cancer early and saving lives. Early detection can lead to more effective treatment options and improved outcomes for patients.
The program screens for lung cancer in high-risk individuals using low-dose computed tomography (low-dose CT) scans. People are eligible for the program if they are aged between 50 and 70 years and:
- show no signs or symptoms suggesting you may have lung cancer (that is, you are asymptomatic)
- currently smoke or have quit smoking in the past 10 years
- have a history of tobacco cigarette smoking of at least 30 pack-years.
On 2 May 2023, the Australian Government announced that it would set up the program. The program launched on 1 July 2025.
Find out more about establishing the program.
About lung cancer
Lung cancer is the fifth most common cancer and the leading cause of cancer death in Australia. It is a disease where abnormal cells in the lungs grow and multiply out of control.
The main symptoms of lung cancer include:
- a new or changed cough
- coughing up blood
- being short of breath for no reason
- getting very tired
- unexplained weight loss
- chest or shoulder pain that does not go away.
Learn more about lung cancer and its main symptoms.
If you think you are experiencing symptoms of lung cancer, don’t wait. See your healthcare professional or Aboriginal health worker right away.
Health professionals investigate symptoms of lung cancer using Cancer Australia’s guide.
Why lung cancer screening is important
Lung cancer screening saves lives.
Screening helps to detect cancer at an earlier stage. Earlier diagnosis:
- contributes to higher survival rates and improved quality of life
- reduces the number of patients who need treatment for advanced stage lung cancer
- helps save hundreds of lives each year from lung cancer.
Learn more about how the National Lung Cancer Screening Program works.
Benefits of early diagnosis
There are more treatment options and a better chance of a cure when cancers are found early.
Early stage lung cancer can often be treated with surgery to remove the tumour. In later stages (3 or 4) cancer has often spread outside the lung, requiring more intensive treatment options. For advanced lung cancer (stage 4), treatment may only focus on slowing the cancer’s growth and improving quality of life.
Researchers estimate that:
- the proportion of cases identified at early stage cancer (stage 1) will increase from 16% without a screening program to 60% with a screening program
- the proportion of advanced stage (stage 4) cancer will decrease from 53% without a screening program to 11% with a screening program.
Large international randomised trials have shown that a low-dose CT scan can detect up to 70% of lung cancers at early stages. If detected early, more than 65% of lung cancers can be successfully treated.
Read the study about reduced lung cancer mortality from screening.
We expect that participation in the program will increase over time as it becomes more publicly known and promoted by healthcare providers.
Learn more about lung cancer screening.
See our resources that provide information and materials about the program.
The screening and assessment pathway
The screening and assessment pathway defines the structure of the program. We based the pathway on stakeholder consultation and evidence reviewed through Cancer Australia’s lung cancer screening enquiry report and feasibility study. The Medical Services Advisory Committee (MSAC) supports the pathway.
Using this pathway:
- participants with a very low risk of cancer (no current findings) will stay in the program and receive a reminder for a screening scan in 2 years
- participants with low risk findings will stay in the program and return for an interval low-dose CT scan in 12 months
- participants with low to moderate risk findings will stay in the program and return for an interval low-dose CT scan in 6 months
- participants with moderate risk findings will stay in the program and return for an interval low-dose CT scan in 3 months
- those with high risk and very high risk findings will require further investigation – the requesting provider will refer them to a respiratory physician (or other specialist) linked to a lung cancer multidisciplinary team (MDT).
Sometimes screening can show something that is not lung cancer that may need follow-up testing or treatment. These participants will go back to usual care and their requesting healthcare provider will follow the relevant clinical guidelines. The participant may be able to continue screening depending on the nature of the actionable additional finding.
Role of the National Cancer Screening Register
The National Cancer Screening Register (NCSR) provides program information and reminders to participants. It does not hold any scan images. Relevant healthcare providers may access participant information and remind patients if they need to take action in relation to lung cancer screening. The NCSR also communicates to participants what action is required, such as screening or follow up appointments.
Read more about using the NCSR under the program.
Legislation
The National Cancer Screening Register Amendment Act 2024 expanded the NCSR to also support the program.
The National Cancer Screening Rules 2017 were also amended. It includes a mandatory reporting requirement for radiologists to report lung cancer screening information to the NCSR within 30 days.
Governance and engagement
To help design and implement the program, 2 advisory committees were established:
- The Program Advisory Group includes representatives from every jurisdiction and focuses on how the program will be delivered within their health systems.
- The Expert Advisory Committee is a multidisciplinary advisory group that provides expert advice on how to promote best practice lung cancer screening.
A key focus of the program and its advisory committees is to consider and advise on how it will achieve equitable outcomes. This includes outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and other priority populations who are disproportionately impacted by lung cancer.
Program monitoring and evaluation
We are developing a program quality framework as well as program monitoring and evaluation systems. These will make sure that the program meets its goals.
See Establishing the program for more details.
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