2023-24 Annual report
Early detection through innovative cancer screening
Widespread, organized screening programs support better access to high-quality screening across the country. This year, CPAC supported the implementation and delivery of cancer screening across all provinces and territories that will contribute significantly to early diagnosis of cancer and improve a patient’s chances of successful treatment.
Lung cancer screening takes flight across Canada
- 10
- provinces have taken steps to plan and implement lung cancer screening
Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in Canada. And the evidence for screening is compelling. Lung cancer will strike one in 14 people in Canada and often goes undetected at its earliest and most treatable stages. Studies show that screening individuals at high risk of developing lung cancer can dramatically reduce mortality rates.
Five years ago, CPAC and partners identified lung screening as a major priority. CPAC advanced planning for organized lung cancer screening in Canada by providing resources such as standard business case for provinces to adapt, modeling to demonstrate the impact of lung screening and a readiness assessment toolkit. With CPAC funding, implementation of lung cancer screening has accelerated across Canada, with six provinces now offering lung screening to individuals at high risk of lung cancer. In 2024, Nova Scotia launched its lung screening program, joining Ontario and British Columbia, which run established screening programs. Quebec, Alberta and Newfoundland and Labrador have implemented pilot programs and are moving toward full implementation.
All CPAC-funded projects prioritize a focus on people-specific approaches to increase the accessibility of these programs for First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities and people in other underserviced communities such as those living in rural and remote areas and those with low income.
Program launch in Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia’s screening program, which was developed with input from Mi’kmaw communities and Nova Scotians of African descent, will provide thousands of individuals at high risk of developing lung cancer with clinical assessments and low-dose computerized tomography scans to screen for lung cancer. It also provides information about lung health and help to stop smoking. Nova Scotians aged 50 to 74 who have smoked daily for 20 years or more at any point in their lives can contact the program and have a nurse assess their personal risk.
The (Nova Scotia) Lung Screening Program will help change the face of lung cancer in this province and transform the conversation from lung cancer to lung health.
—Dr. Helmut Hollenhorst, Senior Medical Director, Nova Scotia Health Cancer Care Program
With all 10 provinces taking steps to plan and implement lung cancer screening, Canada is on track to detect 1,400 to 2,500 new cases of lung cancer per year – many of which will be diagnosed at an earlier stage than if they had been found once a person is symptomatic. With earlier diagnosis, many more people will survive this disease.
Collaborating for better screening
CPAC plays an important role as a convenor of pan-Canadian lung, breast, colorectal and cervical cancer screening networks. We have convened networks across all four disease sites that enable knowledge sharing within and across jurisdictions to align best practices and promote high-quality screening. This enables provinces and territories to integrate new evidence and innovation more quickly, improving screening programs across the country.