Lung Cancer Screening: Low-Dose Spiral CT Scan

British Columbia Specific Information

Lung screening involves a scan of your lungs using a low-dose CT (LDCT) machine. The scan is free and takes place at a hospital in your community.

A low-dose CT scan is a safe and effective way to screen for lung cancer and can pick up much more than a chest x-ray can.

Lung screening is best for those who are at high-risk for lung cancer and who are not experiencing any symptoms. This usually includes people who are:

  • 55 to 74 years of age
  • Currently smoking or have smoked in the past
  • Have a smoking history of 20 years or more

If you think you meet these requirements, please call the Lung Screening Program at 1-877-717-5864 to complete a consultation and risk assessment over the phone. Not everyone who meets the above requirements will be eligible for lung screening. A risk assessment over the phone is needed to confirm eligibility.

For more information, visit BC Cancer: Get Screened and BC Cancer: Lung.

Test Overview

Screening tests help your doctor look for a problem before you have symptoms. Lung cancer screening is a way to find some lung cancers early, when a cure is more likely and when cancer is more treatable.

If your doctor recommends lung cancer screening, you'll have a low-dose computed tomography (CT) scan of your chest once a year. A special scanner called a spiral CT makes circular movements around your body. This doughnut-shaped machine sends low-dose X-rays, or radiation, through your chest to make detailed pictures. A low-dose CT uses much less radiation than a regular-dose CT scan. A doctor looks at the pictures of your lungs for growths, called nodules, that could be cancer.