Lung cancer screening in Canada, 2026

Lung cancer screening guidelines

Lung cancer screening is different from population-based screening for breast, colorectal and cervical cancer in that it is recommended for people at the highest risk of developing lung cancer, based on individual risk-factors. In all Canadian jurisdictions, eligible participants are identified through risk prediction models: to be eligible for screening, participants must fall above a specified risk threshold, based on age and smoking history, as well as other factors such as health and/or race. Jurisdictions differ in the eligibility criteria and risk prediction model version used.

Provincial and territorial screening guidelines

P/T Age eligibility Routine screening interval Risk prediction model Criteria
YT
NT*
NU
BC 55–74 Annual/biennial, as determined by the PanCan nodule malignancy risk prediction tool and volumetric analysis using CAD PLCOm2012 race model
  • Current or former smoker with a smoking history of 20 years or more
  • Has a healthcare provider
  • Willing and able to undergo LDCT
  • Assessment of risk ≥1.5% over six years using PLCOm2012 risk prediction model
AB 50–74 Annual PLCOm2012 3-race model
  • Assessment of risk ≥1.5% over six years using PLCOm2012
SK* 50-74 As per Lung-RADS© protocol PLCOm2012_Indigenous Middle Canada Model
  • Current or former smoker, with a smoking history of 20 years or more
  • Assessment of risk ≥2.0% over 6 years using the PLCOm2012_Indigenous Middle Canada risk prediction model
MB 55-74 Biennial, will change to annual/biennial with program implementation Will use PLCOm2012noRace with program implementation
  • Threshold: >1.5% over six years
ON 55–80 As per Lung-RADS® protocol PLCOm2012noRace
  • Current or former smoker with a daily commercial tobacco smoking* history of 20 years or more (does not need to be consecutive years)
  • Assessment of risk ≥2% using PLCOm2012noRace
QC* 55–74 Annual  PLCOm2012noRace
  • Current or former smoker with a smoking history of 20 years or more (does not need to be consecutive years)
  • Age: 55 to 74 years
  • Assessment of risk >2% using PLCOm2012 grid, assessment of health status, and consent following an informed decision
NB 50-74 As per Lung-RADS® protocol PLCOm2012noRace
  • Current or former smoker with a daily smoking history of 20 years or more (does not need to be consecutive years)
  • Assessment of risk ≥1.5% using PLCOm2012noRace
NS 50–74 Twice annual, then biennial PLCOm2012noRace
  • Daily smoker (current or former) for 20+ years (not necessarily consecutively)
  • Assessment of risk ≥2% using PLCOm2012noRace model
  • Willing to undergo LDCT after discussion with screening nurse regarding risks and benefits
  • Lung cancer patients (5 years post treatment with no concerning imaging or clinical findings) who meet age criteria (smoking criteria not necessary)
PE* 55-74 PLCOm2012noRace
  • Age: 55 to 74 years
  • Smoking history: Current or former smoker
  • Pack-year requirement: At least 20 years of smoking history
  • Symptoms: No current signs or symptoms of lung cancer
NL 55–74 Annual/biennial PLCOm2012 race model
  • Smoking history of 20 years or more
  • Willing and able to undergo LDCT
  • Assessment of risk ≥1.5% using PLCOm2012

Data are current as of February 2026.

*Footnotes:
NT: Does not have screening guidelines
SK: Updated July 2025
ON: Includes cigarettes, cigars, loose tobacco, pipes or bidi/beedi
QC: Screening criteria under review by INESSS, particularly for screening intervals for Lung-RADS 1
PE: Routine screening intervals is still under review

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