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WHAT IS THE NATIONAL LUNG CANCER SCREENING PROGRAM?
- sridhar Kothuri
- Jun 22
- 2 min read
From July 2025, eligible people in Australia will be able to participate in screening for lung cancer through the National Lung Cancer Screening Program.
Screening is a way of finding signs of cancer in people who do not have any symptoms.
The goal is to findcancer early, when it is easier to treat.
Lung cancer screening uses a low-dose CT scan to look for any small lumps, called nodules.
Lung cancer screening can find 70% of lung cancer at its early stages, before there are any symptoms and when treatment is most effective.2,3
What do I need to do?
1 If you think you might be eligible, speak with a doctor who will assess your eligibility. You will need a referral for the scan. Consultation fees may apply if your doctor does not bulk bill. The scan is free, covered by Medicare.
2 If you think someone you know might be eligible, encourage them to speak to their doctor. This could be a friend, parent, grandparent or other family member. They may need some extra support to speak to
their doctor.
3 Ask your doctor about the benefits and potential harms of lung cancer screening. Talk about your preferences to decide and discuss if lung cancer screening is right for you.
4 Your doctor will check if you are suitable to have a low-dose CT scan. If you have had a recent health issue, a scan might not be right for you at this time. For example, if you have had a CT scan in the last 12 months for
other health issues or if you have had the COVID-19 infection in the last 12 weeks.
5 If you are eligible and suitable for screening, and consent to take part in lung cancer screening, your doctor will refer you for a free low-dose CT scan covered by Medicare.
6 With your consent, your doctor will enrol you in the National Cancer Screening Register (NCSR). This will support your lung cancer screening by sending you reminders and your results to your doctor.
For more information. visit the links below.
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