Lung Cancer Screening Test
What is lung cancer screening?
Lung cancer is the third most common cancer in the UK, with around 130 new cases diagnosed each day. Currently, fewer than half of cases are detected early.
Screening programmes have increased early-stage diagnoses to 76%, and patients diagnosed at the earliest stage are up to 20 times more likely to survive for five years than those diagnosed later.
Who can have the lung cancer screening?
You are eligible for the Lung Cancer screening service if:
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Aged between 55 to 74 years of age
AND
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Current Smoker or have quit in the last 15 years
AND
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Have a smoking history of 20 pack-years or more - click here to calculate
What to expect on initial consultation:
Assessment:
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You will be offered a 15 minute consultation with a doctor.
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The doctor will perform a comprehensive history of your symptoms and risk factors for lung cancer.
Examination:
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The doctor will listen to your lungs with a stethoscope and assess your oxygen levels with pulse oximeter.
Investigations:
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If you fit the criteria for lung cancer screening then you will be referred for a private Low Dose CT Scan.
What are the risks?
Overdiagnosis:
Some lung cancers found through screening may never have caused problems, leading to unnecessary treatment.
False positive and false negative results:
False positives can lead to further tests, while false negatives mean a cancer may be missed.
Radiation exposure:
Repeated low-dose CT scans involve a small amount of radiation and carry a very slight cancer risk.
Incidental findings:
Scans may detect unrelated abnormalities that require further investigation.