Australia Screens Nearly 100,000 for Lung Cancer in First Year of National Program

The federal government’s national lung cancer screening program has completed its first 12 months, with data showing almost 100,000 high-risk Australians accessed the free service and more than 230 primary lung cancers detected. Lung cancer remains Australia’s leading cause of cancer death, claiming about 9,000 lives annually.

Late diagnosis continues to be the biggest hurdle in treating the disease.

Health officials said screening can detect up to 70% of lung cancers, and when caught early, more than 65% of cases can be successfully treated. The program targets Australians aged 50 to 70 with a history of smoking, using low-dose CT scans available in every state and territory.

In remote regions, a partnership with Heart of Australia has so far delivered 519 mobile scans via specialised trucks across north Western Australia and the Northern Territory. Additional services will be rolled out across the remaining states over the next 10 months.

Nations participants made up more than 5% of those screened. Officials credited the uptake to a structural partnership with the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation. Police from the Burwood Police Area Command responded to reports near Bayview Park in Concord.

A friend of the family had called authorities at 12:30pm requesting a welfare check. Police said the family was from Westmead in Sydney’s west and that the father had hired the vessel earlier in the day. ” She said police would “leave no stone unturned” as they investigate whether the incident was a tragic accident or intentional.