Lung Screening Eligibility St Ives Lung Cancer Risk Factors
Lung cancer screening eligibility at Epoch Medical Imaging, St Ives. Who qualifies for LDCT screening, risk factors, and how to discuss it with your GP. North Shore.
Lung Cancer Screening Eligibility: Age, Smoking History & Risk Factors
Australia’s National Lung Cancer Screening Program (NLCSP) targets the group of Australians at highest risk — those who have had prolonged exposure to cigarette smoke, the leading cause of lung cancer in Australia.
Eligibility for NLCSP-funded screening:
– Age: 50 to 70 years
– Smoking history: Current smoker, or former smoker who has quit within the past 10 years, with a significant cumulative smoking history of 30 pack-years (expressed as pack-years — a measure combining how much and how long you smoked)
Additional risk factors that your GP will consider when assessing screening eligibility:
– Duration of smoking — how many years of smoking history
– Intensity of smoking — how many cigarettes per day on average
– Family history of lung cancer in a first-degree relative
– Occupational exposure to known lung carcinogens
If you are in the eligible age range and have a significant smoking history — even if you have quit — speak with your GP about whether NLCSP-funded LDCT screening applies to you. The referral process is straightforward and the scan is provided at no cost for eligible participants.
Can Non-Smokers Benefit from Lung Cancer Screening?
The current NLCSP targets current and former smokers as the highest-risk group — but lung cancer does affect non-smokers too, and understanding risk in this group is important.
Non-smoker lung cancer facts:
– Approximately 15% of lung cancers in Australia occur in people who have never smoked — a significant number in absolute terms.
– Lung cancer in non-smokers tends to involve different genetic subtypes (such as EGFR mutations) that may respond differently to targeted therapies.
– Non-smoker lung cancer risk factors include: exposure to radon gas, passive (secondhand) smoke exposure over many years, occupational exposures (asbestos, certain chemicals), a family history of lung cancer, and in some cases, prior lung disease.
Current evidence supports LDCT screening primarily in the high-risk smoking population, where the benefit-to-risk ratio is well established. For non-smokers with specific risk factors, speak with your GP about whether a diagnostic chest CT or specialist respiratory review is appropriate for your individual situation.
Occupational Risk Factors: Asbestos, Radon & Workplace Exposure
Occupational exposure to certain substances significantly increases lung cancer risk — and is an important consideration when assessing whether screening or closer monitoring is appropriate for an individual.
Key occupational lung cancer risk factors:
– Asbestos: One of the most important occupational lung carcinogens in Australia. Workers in construction, shipbuilding, insulation, and plumbing industries prior to the 1980s had significant asbestos exposure. Asbestos-related lung disease (mesothelioma and lung cancer) can develop decades after exposure. Individuals with known asbestos exposure should discuss their lung health with their GP or a respiratory physician.
– Radon gas: A naturally occurring radioactive gas that can accumulate in enclosed spaces — a recognised lung cancer risk factor, particularly when combined with smoking.
– Silica dust: Workers in mining, construction, and quarrying with silica exposure are at elevated lung cancer risk.
– Diesel exhaust, certain paints and chemicals: Other occupational exposures associated with increased lung cancer risk.
If you have had significant occupational exposure to any of these substances — particularly asbestos — discuss this with your GP when considering lung cancer screening.
Discussing Lung Screening Risk with Your GP
The decision about whether LDCT lung cancer screening is right for you is best made in partnership with your GP — who can assess your individual risk profile and eligibility for funded screening.
How to approach the conversation:
– Be honest about your smoking history, including the number of cigarettes per day and how many years you smoked (or have smoked).
– Mention any occupational exposures — particularly asbestos, silica, or other known lung carcinogens.
– Share any family history of lung cancer, particularly in first-degree relatives.
– Mention any respiratory symptoms — persistent cough, breathlessness, unexplained weight loss — as these warrant a diagnostic assessment rather than a screening scan.
Your GP will assess your eligibility for the NLCSP and provide a referral if you qualify. They will also discuss the benefits and limitations of screening — including the possibility of finding nodules that require further monitoring but turn out to be benign. Epoch Medical Imaging in St Ives is available to discuss your referral — call (02) 9129 6999.
Bulk Billing
Available Here
All Referrals Accepted
We Handle Your
Insurance Claims
We Accept All Workers Compensation Cases
Get in Touch
Have a question or ready to book? Our friendly team is here to help with appointments, referrals and any imaging enquiries you may have.
Working Hours
Monday - Wednesday, Friday 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM
Thursday - 08:00 AM - 07:00 PM
Saturday - 08:30 AM - 1:00 PM