Depending on the country, the process may begin with a referral from a general practitioner, or you may be able to go directly to a screening centre or access a mobile health unit.
A respiratory physician will complete a short check-up to take your medical and smoking history and check your lung function using simple, non-invasive tests.
Next, you will be scheduled for a low-dose computed tomography (CT) scan. This scan takes detailed images of your lungs. It is quick, painless, and involves a very small amount of radiation, less than you would be exposed to on a short-haul flight. The scan itself takes only a few minutes.
The results are reviewed by a trained radiologist, often with the support of artificial intelligence tools. You will be contacted with your results and next steps within a few weeks. Other conditions, such as emphysema, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), lung fibrosis, or coronary calcification may also be identified during the process.
If you are a current smoker, you will also be offered support to help quit smoking as part of the lung cancer screening programme.