Participants needed for lung screening trial

Lung Specialist, Professor Kwun Fong is seeking suitable people to join an international lung screening research study at The Prince Charles Hospital.

The Prince Charles Hospital (TPCH) is seeking suitable people to undergo scanning as part of an international trial aimed at detecting and treating lung cancer before it becomes fatal.

TPCH lung specialist Professor Kwun Fong said more than 4000 smokers and ex-smokers aged 55 and over in Australia and Canada would be recruited for the study.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in Australia, with most cases only detected at an advanced stage.

More than 12,000 lung cancer cases are predicted to be diagnosed in Australia this year – 7000 men
and 5000 women.

Professor Fong, who leads the Australian leg of the trial, said interested people would be checked for risk factors before having low-dose CT scans.

“This research aims to determine which people at risk of lung cancer would benefit most from screening,” Prof Fong said.

“Being able to identify at risk people most likely to benefit from a scan, allows us to minimise unnecessary tests and radiation from a CT scan, thereby reducing the potential harm to the patient,” he said.

About 950 people have already taken part in the trial, funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council, since it began last year at hospitals in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Perth.

To be considered for the trial, individuals must be a current or former smoker, age between 55 and 80, and be in good general health.

People wanting to join the trial can contact the International Lung Screen Trial (ILST).