May 25, 2022
Screening will be available at 36 centres for those aged between 55 and 74, currently smoking or previously smoked and have a smoking history of 20 years or more. People who meet the criteria are encouraged to call the program for a consultation and risk assessment to determine eligibility. An estimated 10,000 patients are expected to be screened in the first year of the program and that number is expected to jump by about 15% per year. The medical director of the screening program says 70% of all lung cancer cases are diagnosed at an advanced stage and the program aims to change that trend by detecting lung cancers earlier when treatment is more effective.