{"id":9365,"date":"2025-12-05T10:13:00","date_gmt":"2025-12-04T23:13:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/onthecoastpublications.com.au\/onthecoastover55\/?p=9365"},"modified":"2025-12-04T22:14:36","modified_gmt":"2025-12-04T11:14:36","slug":"national-lung-cancer-screening-program-eligibility-central-coast-families","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/onthecoastpublications.com.au\/onthecoastover55\/national-lung-cancer-screening-program-eligibility-central-coast-families\/","title":{"rendered":"New National Lung Cancer Screening Program Launches: Is Your Family Eligible?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

by dr georgia page, GP at your family doctors, erina<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Australia has long been a world leader in cancer prevention, with well\u2013established national screening programs for breast, cervical, and bowel cancers. Now, for the first time, lung cancer is joining that list. As of July 1, a new National Lung Cancer Screening Program is available across the country offering eligible Australians a chance to detect lung cancer early, when treatment is most effective.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why lung cancer screening matters\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lung cancer is the fifth most common cancer and remains the leading causes of cancer death in Australia. Each year, more than 13,000 Australians are diagnosed with lung cancer, and sadly, over 8,000 lose their lives to the disease. That\u2019s more than breast, prostate, and ovarian cancer deaths combined.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the biggest challenges is that lung cancer often doesn\u2019t show symptoms until it\u2019s already advanced. That\u2019s where this new program can make a massive difference by finding cancers when they\u2019re small and more treatable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is lung cancer screening?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The screening uses a special type of scan called a low\u2013dose computed tomography (CT) scan. Unlike a regular chest X\u2013ray, which can miss small abnormalities, a low\u2013dose CT scan creates detailed images of your lungs using a much lower dose of radiation than a traditional CT scan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Research shows that regular screening with a low\u2013dose CT can reduce deaths from lung cancer. In trials overseas, lung cancer screening has been shown to detect around 70% of lung cancers at an early stage \u2013 a time when treatment can be more successful and less invasive. If detected early, more than 65% of lung cancers can be successfully treated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The scan is quick, painless, and uses a much lower dose of radiation than a typical CT scan. It provides a clear image of the lungs, allowing doctors to spot any signs of cancer long before symptoms might appear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Who is eligible for lung cancer screening?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The new screening program is designed for people who are at higher risk of developing lung cancer. Specifically, it targets those who:<\/p>\n\n\n\n