Free Scan Saves Life for One of a Million Eligible People

Suzi Scott, 57, lost her mother June to lung cancer when she was nine years old in the 1970s. (ABC News: Janelle Miles)

Suzi was a child when her mother died of lung cancer at age 49.

Nearly fifty years later, the 57‑year‑old was diagnosed with Australia’s deadliest cancer last year.

Unlike her mother, her cancer was found early, before any symptoms appeared.

Ms Scott is among more than 117,000 people scanned since the National Lung Cancer Screening Program began in July last year.

Remembering the trauma of losing her mother June to lung cancer as a nine‑year‑old, she asked her doctor about the free program and “made it happen”.

Suzi Scott’s mother, June, died of lung cancer at just 49 years old. (ABC News: Janelle Miles)

Ms Scott believes the decision saved her life.

She received a bulk‑billed low‑dose CT scan through the new program, which showed a 1.6 cm tumour in her right lung.

Four weeks later the tumour was removed at The Prince Charles Hospital in Brisbane’s north. She stayed four days in hospital, missed six weeks of work and has needed no further treatment.

Ms Scott has also stopped using nicotine.

The silent killer

When her mother was diagnosed in the 1970s the cancer had already spread beyond the lungs.

“I remember a big lump on mum’s neck,” Ms Scott said.

“That was why she got checked.”

Suzi Scott was one of almost 100,000 people screened in the first year of Australia’s lung cancer screening program. (ABC News: Janelle Miles)

To qualify, Australians must be 50‑70 years old and have a smoking history equal to a pack a day for 30 years.

They also must have no signs or symptoms that suggest lung cancer, which kills about 9,000 Australians each year.

The program aims to find lung cancer early, when it can be treated more easily.

Ms Scott said she had no sign that she had lung cancer before the tumour was found.

“I didn’t have chest pain. I was running. I was fit. I was doing my job.”

“Lung cancer is a silent killer. Many people don’t need to die from it. They need to get screened. Don’t be scared.”

You are eligible for the screening program if you:

Ms Scott works in security and is among almost 400 people whose lung cancers were found through the program, Australia’s first new national cancer screening program in two decades.

It joins similar screening programs for bowel, breast and cervical cancers that focus on early detection and prevention.

While more than 900,000 Australians may qualify for screening, the first year saw far fewer participants than expected.

Lung Foundation Australia CEO Mark Brooke said the foundation was “absolutely delighted” with the first‑year uptake but there is always room for improvement.

He has called for more funding to help doctors refer patients for screening.

Mark Brooke, CEO of Lung Foundation Australia. (ABC News: Mark Leonardi)

Mr Brooke also suggested expanding the age range and including people with a family history of lung cancer or high‑risk jobs such as stone masons, miners, construction workers, firefighters and farm workers.

“We don’t want to screen people unnecessarily and expose them to radiation when it isn’t needed,” he said.

“Targeted programs give the best health and economic outcomes.”

“We know current or former smokers are at highest risk of lung cancer. That’s about six or seven out of ten people who are later diagnosed with lung cancer.”

Australia ‘winning’ at cancer screening

Mr Brooke said Australia is being praised as a world leader in lung cancer screening, with one expert saying at a recent conference, “Australia has not only won the Ashes, but they’re winning the lung cancer screening race as well.”

“I think many countries are watching how Australia has rolled out this program,” he said.

Curtin University respiratory specialist Fraser Brims said more awareness could bring more eligible people for testing, and the rollout should be called “a great success”.

Curtin University respiratory specialist Professor Fraser Brims. (ABC News)

But he said getting care after a lung cancer diagnosis is still hard in some regions.

“The Australian health system for lung cancer has excellent care, but it is uneven in places,” Professor Brims said.

“When people can’t reach experts in time, outcomes can get worse for some Australians.”

Lung cancer is the top cause of cancer death in Australia, but it is not only a smoker’s disease.

“There is a need for a national clinical quality program to monitor health services and outcomes, and for the system to become a learning and accountable system.”

Professor Brims also argued for better integration of smoking‑cessation support within the screening program.

“Studies in Australia and abroad show that quitting smoking at the time of screening greatly increases the benefit,” he said.

“You get the effect of screening plus the effect of stopping smoking, which helps lung health, prevents about 15 other cancers caused by tobacco, and improves heart health and reduces stroke risk.”

People who currently smoke or have previously smoked are at highest risk of lung cancer. (Unsplash: Robina Weermeijer)

Professor Brims joined Mr Brooke in calling for more specialist lung cancer nurses.

“Around diagnosis and treatment start is an incredibly difficult time for patients and families,” he said.

“Up to 80 % of patients report significant mental‑health effects.”

“Having a specialist nurse then improves quality of life, speeds up treatment and even increases treatment uptake.”

“If you leave it, it will come and get you.”

Suzi Scott says she feels lucky her cancer was found early and could be removed successfully.

Other patients she shared a hospital ward with were not as fortunate.

Her mother and grandmother began smoking at age 14 in the 1980s.

Suzi says she had no symptoms before a 1.6 cm tumour was found in her right lung. (ABC News: Janelle Miles)

“I was out at parties, having fun, and I smoked. Smoking was everywhere. It was a social activity,” she recalled.

“I lost my mum to lung cancer when I was nine.”

“I didn’t realize smoking could give me lung cancer until it was too late.”

After almost 40 years of smoking, she quit five years ago, then started vaping nicotine. She stopped vaping after her lung cancer was removed.

Ms Scott said the screening program is “aimed at people who grew up in that era and smoked because the culture was different”.

She hopes her story will urge others of her generation to get screened.

“If you leave it, it will come and get you,” Ms Scott said.

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