If you are at high risk for developing lung cancer, you could qualify for a new provincial program.
The Lung Screening Program has expanded to Cape Breton as well as Antigonish and Guysborough Counties.
You can contact the program if you are aged 50 to 74 and have smoked daily for 20 years or more at any point in your life.
Family doctors can also make referrals.
Health Minister Brian Comer says the move will improve outcomes for people by preventing or finding and treating cancer earlier.
“I encourage Nova Scotians who are eligible for the program to make that call sooner than later. Your life could depend on it,” says Comer.
If you meet the criteria, there will be a clinical assessment to determine risk and whether or not you would benefit from a low-dose computerized tomography (CT) chest scan.
Information will also be available about lung health and, if applicable, support to quit.
So far, more than 2,700 have called or been referred to the program that launched in HRM and West Hants in January 2024.
Over 1,500 people have had a telephone assessment in the screening program – including:
– 403 people who asked to be referred to smoking cessation counselling
– 385 people who were determined to be at very high risk for lung cancer received free nicotine replacement therapy to help them stop smoking
– 41 patients were found to possibly have lung cancer and were referred to a lung specialist for a diagnostic assessment
The program will also continue to be rolled out across the province over the next year.
