Free lung cancer screenings now available in Cairns for new program targeting deadly disease

Free lung cancer screening is now available in Cairns for the first time. Check whether you qualify for the new national program designed to catch Australia’s deadliest cancer early.

Lung cancer screening is a quick, non-invasive procedure that uses low-dose CT imaging to detect lesions and signs of cancer before symptoms appear.

Cairns residents can now have free lung cancer screenings for the first time in a new nationwide program aiming to detect the deadly disease earlier in people with no symptoms.

The National Lung Cancer Screening Program launched by the Australian government is accepting eligible people aged between 50 and 70 years old.

Low-dose, non-invasive CT scan imaging done at Cairns Queensland X-Ray clinics will be used to detect lesions and signs of cancer before symptoms appear.

Queensland X-Ray radiologist, Dr Sanjay Dhupelia, said the Cairns program was part of a nationwide push to help detect lung cancer.

“The National Lung Cancer Screening Program gives at-risk Australians access to critical, potentially lifesaving screening,” Dr Dhupelia said.

Queensland X-Ray radiologist, Dr Sanjay Dhupelia, said he was proud to be delivering the screening service in Cairns as part of a nationwide push to help detect lung cancer.

Lung cancer kills more people than any other type of cancer each year.

The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing identifies smoking as the primary lung cancer risk factor, causing 90 per cent of cases in men and 65 per cent in women.

On average the disease has a five-year survival rate of just 26 per cent, with Australians facing a one in 35 risk of dying from lung cancer by age 85.

More than 15,000 Australians were diagnosed with lung cancer in 2024, with nearly 9000 dying from the disease.

Dr Dhupelia said the scans were part of a campaign to improve the health of Australians.

“We’re proud to be delivering this vital screening service and improve patient outcomes,” he said.

To be eligible you must meet the following criteria

• Patients must show no symptoms of lung cancer
• Currently smoke or have quit smoking in the past 10 years
• Have a history of tobacco cigarette smoking of at least 30 “pack-years”

“Pack-years” help doctors measure smoking exposure.

Here’s how it works:

• One pack = 20 cigarettes
• One pack-year = smoking one pack (20 cigarettes) every day for one whole year

Different ways to reach one pack-year:

• Smoke one pack daily for 12 months (20 cigarettes) = one pack-year
• Smoke two packs daily for six months (40 cigarettes) = one pack-year

Once a patient becomes eligible, they can continue to screen even if they have stopped smoking for more than 10 years.

They can continue on in the program until they either turn 71 years old or have findings on a scan which means they would need to exit the screening program.

Patients do not have to quit smoking to participate in the program.

On average lung cancer has a five-year survival rate of just 26 per cent, with Australians facing a one in 35 risk of dying from lung cancer by age 85. Picture: Canva

The free screenings for high-risk eligible patients require a referral from a doctor or healthcare practitioner.

Queensland X-Ray will use advanced technology and analysis systems to provide imaging results.

Reports will be entered in the National Cancer Screening Register and sent to the referring practitioner.

More information on eligibility is available at http://www.health.gov.au.

Originally published as Free lung cancer screenings now available in Cairns for new program targeting deadly disease