Lung cancer screening: are you eligible?

Australia now has a National Lung Cancer Screening Program. It started on 1 July 2025. It uses a low-dose CT scan to look for lung cancer early in people who have a higher chance of getting it but feel well.

Lung cancer often has no symptoms in its early stages. Finding it early, before symptoms start, gives more treatment options.

Who can have screening

You may be eligible if all of these apply to you:

• you are aged 50 to 70

• you have no symptoms of lung cancer

• you smoke cigarettes now, or you quit within the last 10 years

• you have a smoking history of at least 30 pack-years

One pack-year means smoking 20 cigarettes a day for one year. So 30 pack-years could be a pack a day for 30 years. It could also be two packs a day for 15 years. Your doctor can help you work it out.

You do not have to quit smoking to take part.

What the scan involves

The scan is a low-dose CT scan. It uses a low amount of radiation and has no needles. The scan itself takes about 10 seconds.

Medicare pays for scans that are part of the program, so there is no cost for the scan itself.

How to join

The first step is a conversation with your doctor. They will ask about your age and smoking history to check whether the program is right for you. If it is, they can give you a request for the scan.

When you book the scan, tell the radiology clinic you are part of the program. Take your request form and Medicare card with you.

For people in rural and remote areas, healthdirect notes the program may offer mobile screening trucks and travel support. Ask your doctor what is available closest to you.

After the scan

A radiologist checks the images and sends the results to your doctor. The National Cancer Screening Register will contact you about what happens next. If your result shows a very low risk, the Register will remind you when your next scan is due, usually in two years. Some people will need to see their doctor about the results or have more tests.

Don't wait for screening if you have symptoms

Screening is only for people who feel well. See a doctor straight away if you have a new cough or a change in a cough you have had for a while. The same goes for coughing up blood or losing weight without trying. Don't wait for a screening scan.

Talk to us

If you are aged 50 to 70 and have a history of smoking, book an appointment to ask whether lung cancer screening is right for you. Call our team on 02 6953 4333 or book online through HotDoc.

Source

healthdirect, Lung cancer screening (last reviewed June 2025): https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/lung-cancer-screening

Cancer Council Australia, Lung cancer screening: https://www.cancer.org.au/cancer-information/causes-and-prevention/early-detection-and-screening/lung-cancer-screening

This article is general health information. It is not advice about your own circumstances.