In BC, lung screening is delivered through the BC Cancer Lung Screening Program. Lung screening is recommended for people who are at high risk for lung cancer and not experiencing lung cancer symptoms.
Primary care providers play an important role in discussing lung screening with their patients and encouraging eligible patients to complete an assessment.
Eligibility
People who are 55 to 74 with a significant history of smoking commercial tobacco are encouraged to call the Lung Screening Program at 1-877-717-5864 to see if they are at high-risk for lung cancer and thus eligible to screen. If they are eligible, the Program will send a referral for a lung screening low-dose CT to the nearest facility.
During the assessment, the Lung Screening Program will determine whether the patient is at high-risk for lung cancer based on factors such as:
- Patient’s smoking duration
- Current or previous smoking status
- Age
- Ethnicity
- Family history of lung cancer
- Personal history of cancer
- Comorbidities, specifically COPD, emphysema or chronic bronchitis
- Body mass index (BMI)
- Education level
When discussing with your patient, remind them that they may not be eligible after the assessment if they are not considered high-risk for lung cancer. If they are ineligible, encourage the patient to call the Lung Screening Program again in 2 years as older age increases the patient’s risk for lung cancer.
Resources to support health care providers
- BC Cancer Lung Screening Program eligibility risk calculator (for provider use only)
- Fact sheet: Assessing patient eligibility for lung screening (outlines eligibility criteria and how to support your patient to complete an assessment)
- Order tear off pads and patient education materials
- Webinar recording: Lung cancer screening in BC: Eligibility, diagnosis, and follow-up care (timestamps covering eligibility: 9:33 – 11:34; 15:55-24:18)