Lung cancer screening in Canada: Environmental scan (2018)
December 31, 2018
Review this summary of lung cancer screening’s key components and strategies across Canada in 2018
The Canadian Partnership Against Cancer conducts annual environmental scans on national, provincial and territorial lung cancer screening guidelines, strategies and activities. This environmental scan’s information was collected in June and July 2018, and the scan was updated in March 2019.
As of 2018, 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 creating 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, 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 smoking years.
Discover more about this scan’s highlights:
- In 2017, Ontario started a pilot of organized lung-cancer screening for high-risk individuals.
- Three lung cancer screening studies have been created. These initiatives include two provincial studies and a Canada-wide study.
- Business cases are being created or have been submitted to health ministries in four provinces and territories.
- Advisory committees about lung cancer screening have been formed or are in development in four provinces.
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