Lung cancer screening in Canada: Environmental scan (2017)

April 1, 2017

Review this summary from April 2017 of the key components of lung cancer screening strategies across Canada

As of 2017, Canada doesn’t have any organized lung cancer screening programs. However, some provinces and territories have started lung cancer screening strategies, such as preparing business cases, forming advisory committees, and planning or implementing pilot studies.

In 2016, the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care recommended annual screening with low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) up to three consecutive times for adults who are 55 to 74 years and have a 30 pack-year smoking history and who currently smoke or quit less than 15 years ago. Pack-year is defined as the average number of cigarette packs smoked daily multiplied by the number of years smoking.

Discover more about these highlights:

• Ontario is preparing to pilot organized lung cancer screening for high-risk individuals.
• Business cases are being created or have been submitted to health ministries in four provinces.
• Advisory committees about lung cancer screening have been formed or are in development in six provinces.
• Alberta has received a grant for a lung cancer screening pilot project.

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