British Columbia

On September 14, 2020 British Columbia became the first Canadian province to launch a formal lung cancer screening program, building on the province’s current pilot program. The new screening program will be offered by the BC Cancer Foundation and the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer and will allow British Colombians with a high risk of lung cancer to receive early detection screening.

The target population of the new lung cancer screening program will be adults aged 55 to 74 who smoke or have a heavy smoking history. The program is expected to be fully operational by the spring of 2022 and will enable approximately 300 people each year to be diagnosed earlier, giving them more treatment options.  

Newfoundland & Labrador

Currently, there is no formal lung cancer screening program in Newfoundland & Labrador. An advisory group on lung cancer screening was established in 2016, but no business case or pilot programs have been created. The province also has a Thoracic Triage Panel for quick diagnosis of lung cancer, aimed at reducing wait times for lung cancer diagnosis and treatment.  

Northwest Territories

Currently, there is no formal lung cancer screening program in the Northwest Territories. However, the territory is in the process of gathering information on the potential for a screening program and is engaged in early discussions with Alberta on the possibility of joining into their work and pilot project.

Currently, there is no formal lung cancer screening program in Nova Scotia. In 2015, a business case was developed and submitted to government for an early lung cancer screening program.⁵

The program is under consideration by government, but no decisions have yet been made on whether to move forward with implementing a program in the province.⁶

Ontario

The Ontario Lung Screening Program is the province’s organized screening program for people at high risk of being diagnosed with lung cancer.

People may qualify for lung cancer screening if they meet the referral inclusion criteria:

• are 55 to 74 years old, and
• had smoked cigarettes every day for at least 20 years (not necessarily 20 years in a row, which means there could be times when they did not smoke)

Healthcare providers may refer patients to the program, or individuals may contact an Ontario Lung Screening Program site hospital on their own to have the referral inclusion criteria assessed.

Click here to learn more about eligibility and referrals.

• between the ages of 55 and 74;
• at high risk of lung cancer, particularly those who are in one of the following two situations:
• have smoked continuously or off-and-on for at least 20 years,
• smoked continuously or discontinuously for at least 20 years and quit less than 15 years ago
• insured by the Quebec public health insurance plan