Lung cancer screening is being offered as part of a new cancer screening initiative. For people at high risk of lung cancer, getting screened with a low-dose CT scan is the best way to find lung cancer early when treatment has a better chance of working. High risk generally means people who smoked many cigarettes daily for many years, but other factors can also have an impact on your individual risk of lung cancer. Low-dose CT screening tests can have small risks from low-dose radiation. We only recommend that people with high risk get screened.
Lung cancer screening is for Albertans who are at a high risk for lung cancer. You may be eligible for lung cancer screening if you:
- Are 50 to 74 years of age, AND
- Are someone who smokes cigarettes or quit smoking after smoking for many years. For example, you smoked 1 pack per day for at least 15 years, or less
than 1 pack per day but for more than 15 years. AND
- Have a primary care provider such as a family doctor or nurse practitioner
Screening is not an appropriate test to investigate symptoms you may be having. If you have any of the following symptoms, please consult with your family doctor, call 8-1-1, or visit the emergency department.
- A cough that does not go away or gets worse
- Chest pain that does not go away
- Coughing up blood
- Feeling short of breath or wheezy
If you have been told by your doctor that you have or had any of the following, please discuss the appropriateness of lung cancer screening with your family doctor or call the ALCSP at 1-866-727-3926:
- Prior invasive cancer diagnosis active or present in the past 5 years
- Severe heart or lung disease requiring home oxygen
- Chest symptoms or had a chest CT scan in the past 12 months
The following questions will be used to help assess whether you would be a candidate for this program. It will also be used to evaluate the services we provide and for other authorized purposes under the Health Information Act (HIA)IA)H. If you are a candidate, you will be asked to provide additional information (including your Alberta health care number) to register you for this program. A healthcare provider will follow up with you to obtain additional information to refer you to the Lung Cancer Screening Program. At times, non-identifying information may be disclosed to support quality assurance and quality improvement. The collection, use and disclosure of the information described above is authorized under sections 19, 20(b), 21(1)(a),27, and 32 of the HIA.
If you have any questions about the collection or use of the information or the completion of this form, please contact AHS Screening Programs at 1-866-727-3926.
