Lung Cancer Screening
There is currently no routine screening test for lung cancer in Australia. Lung cancer is a complex disease and there are a number of factors and issues involved in creating a national screening program.
On 2 May 2023, the Hon Mark Butler, Minister for Health and Aged Care announced the funding of a National Lung Cancer Screening Program. It is expected to begin by July 2025. The program will target people who are at the highest risk of lung cancer. The aim is to detect lung cancer early to increase the likelihood of successful treatment, improve lung cancer outcomes and ultimately save lives.
You can keep up to date with the progress here.
Eliminating Cervical Cancer
Australia is on track to be the first country in the world to eliminate cervical cancer as a public health problem. This means that the disease will become very rare. Since the introduction of the National Cervical Screening Program in 1991, the number of deaths due to cervical cancer has halved.
Australia also has a National school-based HPV immunisation program, which offers the HPV vaccine for free, to girls and boys aged 12 to 13. Lowering the number of people who are infected with HPV will also decrease incidence of cervical cancer.
As a part of the National Strategy for the Elimination of Cervical Cancer, the following prevention targets have been set:
- 90% of girls and boys to be fully vaccinated with the HPV vaccine by 15 years of age.
- 70% of women aged between 25 and 74 years to be screened on a 5-yearly schedule.
- 95% of women identified with cervical disease receive treatment for pre-cancerous lesions or management of invasive cancer.
Eliminating cervical cancer in Australia by the year 2035 is possible if these, and all other targets outlined in the strategy are met.