adult screening programme
Lung cancer
Lung cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in the UK and worldwide. Around 48,000 people are diagnosed with lung cancer and about 35,000 people die from the disease every year in the UK. Smoking is the most common cause of lung cancer. Other causes include passive smoking and exposure to certain gases and chemicals.
» Read more about lung cancer on NHS UK
UK NSC screening recommendation Based on the last UK NSC review of this condition that occurred in June 2022.
Targeted screening for lung cancer is recommended for people aged 55 to 74 identified as being at high risk of lung cancer. Evidence shows that screening with low-dose computed tomography:
- reduces lung cancer mortality
- is acceptable to patients and professionals if adequately resourced and quality assured
The UK NSC recommended that the 4 nations move towards implementation of targeted lung cancer screening with integrated smoking cessation service provision. The Targeted Lung Health Checks (TLHC) programme provides a feasible and effective starting point for implementation in England.
The committee asked for there to be more modelling work to help:
- refine its recommendation
- address implementation challenges
- determine the optimum protocols and pathway for screening across the UK
Supporting documents from the 2022 review
Evidence review
This document provides the evidence on which the current UK NSC recommendation is based.
Cost-effective model
A mathematical method to predict the costs and health effects (or health outcomes) of one intervention
compared to another, based on the best available evidence.
Coversheet
This document summarises the review process including the public consultation comments.
Other supporting documents
Supporting documents from the 2007 review
In 2007, the UK NSC did not recommend screening for this condition.
UK NSC coversheet & consultation responses Lung cancer (2007)
This document summarises the review process including the public consultation comments.
Screening around the UK
The UK NSC recommends screening for this condition, however this may vary slightly depending on where you are in the UK.
Review cycle
Date previous review completed: 2022
Next review estimated to be completed: 2025 to 2026.
To see previous evidence reviews, visit the UK NSC archive.
Organisations interested in Lung cancer
These organisations have expressed interest in this recommendation and may submit responses to evidence reviews.
List of organisations
- ALK Positive
- British Association of Surgical Oncology
- British Lung Foundation
- British Society of Lifestyle Medicine
- British Thoracic Oncology Group (BTOG)
- British Thoracic Society
- Cancer Research UK
- EGFR Positive UK
- Faculty of Public Health
- Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine
- Macmillan
- Northern Ireland Cancer Network
- Primary Care Respiratory Society UK
- Royal College of General Practitioners
- Royal College of Nursing
- Royal College of Pathologists
- Royal College of Physicians
- Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow
- Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
- Royal College of Radiologists
- Royal College of Surgeons
- Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh
- Scottish Radiation Protection Advisers Group (SRPA)
- Society and College of Radiographers
- Society tor Cardiothoracic Surgery of GB & Ireland
- Tenovus Cancer Care
- The British Association for Cancer Research
- The British Society of Thoracic Imagin
- The Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation
- UK Lung Cancer Coalition (UKLCC)
- Yorkshire Cancer Research
If you think your organisation should be added, please contact us.