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Lung Cancer Screening
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Please note that a referral letter is required before an appointment can be confirmed.
Useful Information
About lung cancer screening
Screening is looking for cancer before a person with risk factors has any symptoms. Lung cancer can be detected with a low dose screening CT (computed tomography) scan. Screening can help to find a cancer at an early stage.
When abnormal tissue or cancer is found early it is easier to treat. It is important to remember that your doctor does not necessarily think you have cancer if he or she suggests a screening test.
You may be suitable for lung cancer screening if you are:
- Aged between 50 - 80
- Current smoker with 20 pack-year history. For example, this means you would have smoked a pack of cigarettes a day for 30 years or two packs a day for 15 years and so on
- An ex-smoker who has quit within the past 15 years
A low dose CT scan is a procedure that uses low dose radiation to make a series of very detailed pictures of areas inside the body. It uses an x-ray machine to scan the body. Low dose CT of the chest has been proven to reduce the risk of death from lung cancer by at least 20% in patients who are at high risk.
A low dose CT scan of the chest involves lying on a flat table in a doughnut shaped scanner. There are no injections. The scan does not hurt and will only take a few minutes.
What if you do find cancer?
At Mater Private Network, our team includes lung specialists, surgeons, oncologists and nurses who can advise you on your treatment options, suitable to your situation.
What if everything is okay?
If your result shows no lung nodules were detected, you will be advised to return for annual screening every two years until otherwise indicated.
Quit smoking!
Research has shown that giving up tobacco smoking is the most important thing you can do to improve your health. Quitting at any age greatly reduces your risk of getting lung cancer and many other cancers. The earlier you stop, the better the chance of reducing your risk.
If you are a smoker you will be advised to meet with our smoking cessation specialists when booking in for a low dose CT scan. During this appointment, you can talk to us about the best strategies for quitting smoking.
The National Cancer Institute's national lung screening trial 2011 yielded a 20% reduction in lung cancer specific mortality as a result of low dose computed tomography (LDCT) screening.
