Lung cancer screening: worth considering

With almost 6,000 deaths per year, lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related mortality. This is largely because the diagnosis is often made at an advanced stage, when recovery is no longer possible.

‘Early detection significantly increases the chance of recovery.’ (Prof. Dr. Ingel Demedts)

“If lung cancer is detected early, the chance of recovery significantly increases,” says Prof. Dr. Ingel Demedts, chairm of the Lung Cancer Working Group at All.Can Belgium. “Screening with a Low-Dose CT scan in high-risk groups can make a crucial difference.”

Challenges

Such screening also leads to earlier diagnoses, often before symptoms appear, when curative treatments are still possible.

However, the implementation of national lung cancer screening programs in Europe and Belgium is limited by a lack of awareness, practical challenges, and concerns about potential risks, such as radiation exposure, false positives, and overdiagnosis.

Recommendations

After extensive consultation with stakeholders, All.Can Belgium has developed a series of recommendations to make national screening programs feasible and effective:

• Screening saves lives: a structured screening program is vital to ensure quality control, avoiding ad hoc initiatives.
• Centers of expertise: screening should be conducted within networks of specialized centers to ensure high standards of quality and follow-up care.
• Primary care: general practitioners, pharmacists, and other primary care professionals are essential in reaching the target group.
• Education: balanced information about the benefits and potential risks of screening is crucial for both healthcare professionals and the public.
• Smoking cessation programs: a screening initiative should be paired with smoking cessation efforts to maximize health benefits.
• Awareness: public education about lung cancer is important for reducing stigma and dispelling the misconception that it is an automatic death sentence.
• Cost-effectiveness: research shows that lung cancer screening is cost-effective, with an investment of €20,000-30,000 per QALY (Quality-Adjusted Life Year) gained.

Call to action

All.Can Belgium urges policymakers to consider a national LDCT lung cancer screening program. Public support and scientific evidence demonstrate that investing in early detection not only saves lives but also contributes to a more efficient and effective healthcare system in Belgium.

‘Screening can not only save lives, but also contribute to more efficient and effective healthcare in Belgium.’

Whitepaper

Our recommendations are based on insights and expertise from a wide range of stakeholders through questionnaires, interviews and a round table discussion. The results were tested against the scientific literature and compiled in a whitepaper that serves as a basis for further discussion.