Northern Health is proud to announce the launch of the National Lung Cancer Screening Program (NLCSP), a major initiative aimed at saving lives through early detection of lung cancer — the nation’s leading cause of cancer death.
Starting this month, eligible Australians will have access to free, low-dose CT scans to screen for lung cancer, even before symptoms appear.
This is the first population-based cancer screening program introduced in Australia since 2006 and is expected to save hundreds of lives each year by detecting lung cancer early, when treatment is most effective.
The program targets individuals aged 50 to 70 years with a significant history of smoking and no current symptoms of lung cancer. The screening involves a quick, painless, Medicare-funded scan that takes just five–10 minutes.
Northern Health will officially launch the National Lung Cancer Screening Program by screening the first patient in the program at Northern Hospital Epping on July 1.
The patient, a 52-year-old woman with a long history of smoking, is seeking peace of mind through early detection.
“Breast cancer runs in my family, as well as other types of cancers, so as bizarre as this may sound, I know that when I first went and got my mammogram, it gave me a piece of mind,” said patient Jacquie Maher
“I expect this to do the same thing, because as a smoker, I know that I’m at a higher risk and I'm primarily doing this for a piece of mind.”
Northern Imaging Victoria (NIV), the radiology service of Northern Health, is a key provider of low-dose CT scans under the NLCSP.
NIV’s Dr Miranda Siemienowicz, a thoracic radiologist and Clinical Lead for the NLCSP on behalf of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists, has played a pivotal role in shaping the radiology framework for the program.
“Today is the culmination of an incredible amount of work at the national level, now translated into a living and breathing service at Northern Imaging Victoria. We are proud to stand as ambassadors for the program,” she said.
Northern Health offers a comprehensive model of care, integrating screening with follow-up services to ensure patients receive timely and coordinated support.
If you think you may be eligible for lung cancer screening, speak with your doctor.
Details: www.health.gov.au/our-work/nlcsp
