Lung cancer screening: two regions plan 2027 start

Catalonia and Castilla-La Mancha plan to start lung cancer screening in 2027: doctors want people at high risk across Spain to have the same chance of an early diagnosis. The Spanish Society of Pulmonology and Thoracic Surgery welcomed the plans in Madrid on 10 November and called for equal access in every autonomous region. The proposed tests use low-dose computed tomography (CT) scans.

Why doctors want earlier tests

Lung cancer often causes no clear symptoms at first. By the time symptoms appear and doctors diagnose it, the disease may already be advanced. Screening aims to find tumours while treatment with the intention of curing the disease is more likely to be possible.

The society points to two trials. In the European Nelson trial, lung cancer deaths among men who took part in screening were 24 per cent lower after 10 years than among men who were not screened. The US National Lung Screening Trial found a relative reduction of 20 per cent compared with screening by chest X-ray.

What happens beyond the scan

The Cassandra project, devised by the society with other groups, is testing prevention and screening for people at high risk in Spain. Alongside low-dose CT scans, it includes help to stop smoking and checks for other conditions linked to tobacco use, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, emphysema and cardiovascular disease.

As more regions consider screening, the society wants common rules for choosing who is tested, standards for carrying out and reading scans, and continued care for patients. So far, the announced plans are for Catalonia and Castilla-La Mancha; the society wants the same opportunity for early detection throughout Spain.

Topics: Health

Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com