Almost 100,000 Australians at high risk of lung cancer have accessed free screening in the first year of the Albanese Government's National Lung Cancer Screening Program, with more than 230 primary lung cancers detected.
More than 285 Australians are joining the program each day on average, with early results showing the program is detecting cancer sooner and potentially saving hundreds of lives.
Lung cancer is Australia's leading cause of cancer death, killing an estimated 9,000 people each year - about one every hour.
Early detection can change that. Screening can detect up to 70 per cent of lung cancers, and when found early, more than 65 per cent can be successfully treated.
In its first year, the landmark program has brought together leading health organisations and community partners to support a coordinated national rollout of education and training for health professionals and a national awareness campaign.
The program was designed in partnership with the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation to help ensure screening is accessible, culturally safe and responsive to the needs of First Nations participants. First Nations participants have made up more than 5 per cent of those screened.
The program uses low-dose CT scans to screen Australians at high risk of lung cancer, including people aged 50 to 70 with a history of smoking.
After screening, participants are supported to take the next step based on their results, whether that means returning for routine screening, undertaking closer monitoring, or being referred for specialist care.
Scans are now available in every state and territory, helping ensure eligible Australians can access screening no matter where they live.
Mobile screening has begun in northern Western Australia and the Northern Territory, bringing services closer to people in rural and remote communities where fixed screening options are limited. Through a partnership with Heart of Australia, 519 mobile scans have been completed, with additional services to be rolled out across the remaining states over the next 10 months.
