Respiratory Institute welcomes $264 million lung cancer screening program

Western Australia’s leading lung research centre welcomes today’s announcement by the Federal Government to support a $264 million National Lung Cancer Screening Program by July 2025.

Minister Butler announced the program will lead to the early detection of lung cancer in Australians and will save lives. The program will target high risk people to detect lung cancer early and improve the chances of successful treatment, leading to better patient outcomes.

Professor Fraser Brims, Director at the Institute for Respiratory Health said, “We’re excited that this critical program is going to get off the ground. We’re proud to have supported critical research in Western Australia that has led to this decision.

“This program will be a game-changer for Australians. We know from our own research that screening for lung cancer leads to earlier detection and potentially curative treatment, improving a patient’s quality of life and avoiding the need for more invasive and costly treatments.

“Lung cancer screening programs have also been successful in other countries and we are confident that a National Lung Cancer Screening Program can deliver similar results here in Australia.”

Modelling shows that a national lung cancer screening program could save up to 12,000 Australian lives in the next decade. A report commissioned by PwC indicates that a lung cancer screening program will increase the chances of survival from 20 per cent to more than 90 per cent.

“Lung cancer is so often a silent killer, “said Professor Fraser Brims.

“The burden is even greater for First Nations people who are twice as likely to be diagnosed with lung cancer compared to non-Indigenous Australians and more than twice as likely to die from it.

“The launch of this screening program is a significant step towards achieving equity in cancer outcomes for priority groups, including for First Nations Australians.”

At risk Australians will be able to get a lung scan every two years, as recommended by the independent Medical Services Advisory Committee.

Media contact:Andrea Jones – 0450613460
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