Lung cancer is the deadliest cancer in Australia and up to 10,000 Australians die from it every year. Approximately 170,000 Australians will be diagnosed with lung cancer in the next decade.
Common symptoms include:
- persistent coughing for more than three weeks
- coughing blood
- a hoarse or changing voice
- difficulty breathing or wheezing
- chest, rib or shoulder pain
- unexplained weight loss
- fatigue and weakness.
Our quiz is based on international research that is widely used to assess lung cancer. It goes by the unwieldy name of PLCOm2012.
Essentially, it’s a risk assessment tool that calculates factors such as age, family history and smoking status to determine your risk of getting lung cancer.
If the quiz tells you your risk factors are high or if you have symptoms, please follow these steps.
Step 1: Book an appointment with your GP as soon as possible.
It doesn’t mean you have cancer—but your GP can refer you to Lungscreen for a scan and a detailed report. Early intervention saves lives.
Step 2: Take the referral letter and the request form to your GP.
We’ll send you an email that attaches a referral letter for your GP, as well as a request form for a low-dose CT scan. Your GP will perform a thorough medical examination and will fill out and sign one of our request forms.
Step 3: Return the form to us.
We’ll arrange your scan and report. We’ll send you and your GP our detailed findings and recommendations. We’ll then continue to support your health by sending you reminders so you don’t miss your appointments and follow-up scans. Contact us if you have any questions.
The National Lung Cancer Screening Program (NLCSP) in Australia is set to begin in July 2025. As part of this initiative, eligible individuals will have access to free lung cancer screening using low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) scans. The program targets high-risk populations, specifically those aged between 50 and 70 years who have a smoking history of at least 30 pack-years. Eligible individuals within this group will be invited to participate in the screening program to detect lung cancer at an earlier and more treatable stage.
Until the national program is fully implemented, the cost of lung cancer screening for individuals not covered by specific programs or research initiatives may still be out-of-pocket expenses. The cost of this screening service may vary. You can obtain this service through the Lungscreen Foundation, where the cost is $300.
For further details about NLCSP, you can visit theAustralian Government Department of Health's NLCSP page.
Buderim QLD 4556
